Matchday discussion

You can't knock the starting line-up (except Dier). That's a team that should be cruising through games.
Poor in-game management (as always). Tactically inept.
Dele's confidence is shattered. There's still a great player in there waiting to play in his preferred (more attacking) position.
Lo Celso - I wonder if he's thinking 'what have I let myself in for coming here...'
I can't see Levy letting Poch go unless we drop further towards the bottom three or someone (Man U?) come in for him, although his stock is pretty worthless now.
Just going to drink through the rest of the season.

 

Where do I start after that performance we are twelfths and by Sunday we will probably drop to 14 or15 and we are below Brighton Sheffield Newcastle Bournemouth Crystal Palace and Burnley. I have supported spurs for over 50 years and have gone from despair when we got relegated and joy when we got promoted back up. Obviously I also had the joy of the double winning team and a few cup winning teams.I have seen good managers and really poor ones come and go and throughout all these times I have gone through mixed emotions but never one of embarrassment Today’s performance has changed all that.with a few exception ieSon and Decelso this was the most inept performance I have seen from our club and that includes one of our own Kane who didn’t even raise a gallop.Where was SESSENGON instead of Winks who slows the game even more.Did pochetino not notice in the week that he actually can provide a cross.PLEASE LEVY GROW A PAIR. TODAY BEFORE ITS TOO LATE

 

A central defence pairing I don't have much confidence in, possibly it made sense to try it as a clean sheet was held in the preceding match but I am really not convinced by Dier as one of two central defenders. When there are three central defenders then maybe, not as one of two.
I consider Davies to be better than Rose, Davies shows less passion and less speed but I prefer the calmer head in defense over the fast and sometimes overly risky. I also prefer Davies over Dier as LCB.
Aurier (despite his brainfarts like Walker used to have) might well be better than Foyth on RB. As far as I can tell Rose is in the national team for one reason only - he plays for Spurs, if he had left for another club during the summer then he might not be in the national team.
I like Winks, he is not afraid to get the ball. At times it almost looks like Sissoko hides away and thus we lose an option to play out. On the other hand the first touch of Sissoko is not great so I can understand if he is reluctant to get the ball and expected to turn with it.

It is a very very long time ago since I played football, back then it was seen as better that a FB put out the ball for a throw-in than trying a pass going slightly (or more) centrally. It was seen as easier to defend a throw-in than risking to get a quick attack back. Now it is apparently seen differently.

Maybe Abraham gets to play ahead of Kane and then Kane can get some rest, he might need a week or more not playing.

All in all, I kind of like the squad now. There are options on the bench. I am not convinced by some selections and some substitutions (both who and when) and that concern is a concern that I've had for a long time now.

 

Sorry Jesper if you like this squad you must be a secret gooner.No decent full back two mistake ridden centre half’s and no defensive midfielder and both back up centre half’s looking to leave along with the retired Ericson.What is there not to like.?????

 

Overall I think Sheff Utd should feel very hard done by with the single point.
There was only 1 side with any purpose or game plan and it sure wasn't us.

I cannot believe what hard work it is just watching (enduring) us.

We are 12 points off Chelsea in 3rd currently 10 points off Leicester in 4th and we can't beat Sheffield Utd at home (for spells you'd think Utd were at home)

Top 4 is a right off now.

5 years of No-gress, most expensive tickets in Europe , worst side to watch by a mile snoozeball.

Needs a huge change at the club starting with the manager

 

And all the idiots that argue against 2nd strikers because we've got Kane just rewatch his performance today he's absolutely shattered and just keeps getting ran into the ground in the sheer desperation tactic that we might get a penalty or Kane can manufacture something out of nothing.

 

Sorry Leicester move into 2nd 12points ahead after beating scum.
They look absolutely light years ahead of us as a team.
We are done, Poch Out now

 

The fullbacks have changed, the way they play appear to be the same so I suspect that they've been told to play they do - risky passes instead of just put out for a throw. Increases the possession but risks dangerous counter-attacks.
The available FBs are good enough to not need to be prioritised to be changed, the problem I see is more related to how the team is not playing as a team and that is often due to how the central midfielders are performing.
Hopefully common sense will prevail and the belgian CBs will again be playing and get extended contracts, if they are not playing then they'll surely leave to keep their spots in the national team and they are better than what was on display today.
The midfield has often been over-run, that hasn't been the failure of the defensive midfielders - that is more due to the midfielders supposedly good in attack failing to help out. Outnumber the DMs and it will be difficult for even the best DMs to look good.
The options from the bench are currently Moura who is good when chasing a match, possibly even better when trying to defend a lead and Lamela who might maybe get well again and he has been good this season. It would be nice to have more game-changers available to come in but if some players can't be substituted then it might not happen.

I don't think a proven striker will come to Spurs as long as Kane will always play and always play the full match. If I was a young striker and asked about going to Spurs then I'd say no - I wouldn't want to wait as long as Son (or Moura) had to wait to get to play. Keeping faith in players has its price, in this case it means that we might see a catch 22: No striker who is good enough to replace Kane will risk coming to Spurs and risk destroying his career by not getting to play so Kane will always play as there is nobody good enough to replace him....

So yes, I believe that the squad is good but I am not happy with how it is been used. CE didn't get to play so maybe other players who appear to be favourites of the manager can also be benched/rested if their performance isn't great or if there is a need to change how the match goes. Unlikely but it might happen.

 

Surely anyone who argues that Poch is still the man for us should rethink - I just can't see any way that he can change things. Or maybe he can, but won't. Either way It's Dead End Street I reckon, and a change has to be made and sooner rather than later. Allegri for me, but get your skates on Levy 'cos The Goons & MU are surely mulling changes right now and Poch won't be on either list. A while ago I was fervently hoping Poch wouldn't go to Manchester - now I really hope he does. His "dream job" in Spain is looking increasingly just a dream too.

 

When you travel to The Lane with No Expectations, you can't be disappointed right. Wrong.

After midweek we had "some" hope, albeit privately. Then the ref blew his whistle. Dier gets booked inside a minute, giving the ref no choice. It set the tone.

What was Dele doing all afternoon, those pathetic little flicks. When you're on top form, sure, when you're playing as badly as you are Dele, just don't.

It's difficult to know where to start, but let's try with Poch's substitution of Dele....for Moura, nay, Foyth. So we're the worst side, only 1 up, and hope to hold that lead by going 3 at the back.....except nobody knows wtf to do. We can cover the width when defending, except we don't, we sit narrow, Davies deep inside his penalty area for the goal......blows my mind.

Bringing Moura on at 85 is an insult - to him and all of us fans. Poch will make excuses, we will see them on MOTD no doubt, if I can be asked to watch.

We know we're in crisis. There is no doubt. Poch will be in Dreamland, DL who knows. We've drawn and lost more PL games than we've won this season.

What Mr. Chairman will you do about this? Don't leave it too long - he who hesitates is lost and your first loss is your worst loss.

So, so painful.....

 

Post match he said he thought it was a fair result as they were better in the 1st half but we were better in the 2nd half....

It's embarrassing how either delusional or arrogant he is.

Sheffield Utd were robbed of 3 points they deserved, we are an appalling side to watch with absolutely no idea style or plan.

 

The post-match interview:
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/11858516/poch-short-turnaround-from-cl-hurt-us

 

West Ham away next ........

 

Leicester was a breadth of fresh air. It's amazing how they have transitioned from a team who sit back and counter-attack to one that aggressively press high up on the pitch, something we used to do so well.

Kane is non-existent frequently in matches. Son is fast replacing him as the main offensive threat.

Talk about belief in youth, compare Lampard to Pochettino. Lampard has got the guts to make changes while Pochettino is simply clueless.

 

Pochettino is simply too afraid to lose now and drop towards relegation zone. He has lost belief in himself and in his team. That's why he cannot be the person to get them out of this situation. He used to thrown the water bottle when things don't go his way. Nowadays he looks resigned and lost.

I think it's difficult to get the best out of Moura now after being treated with no respect. Being left on the bench in the Champions League final when he was the one that carried the team through and being brought on only for cameo appearances says what Pochettino thinks of him. Its difficult for him to convince himself to give 100%.

I think Christmas might be the time for change if Spurs languish near the relegation zone.

 

Well, no one can say that Poch doesn't have a plan, lol...
Seriously, though, the game demonstrated that rebuild is needed and Poch is right. But the problem that I see so far is that Spurs are currently worse than they were in 2014. Also, the team that Poch got from Sherwood featured The Beatles obtained as a result of Bale sale, whilst the current squad is mostly a product of non-investment. Granted that many players are under-performing, the group is aging at the top half and lacks the quality at the bottom half. So, the 2019 challenge for Poch is much grater that one he undertook 5 years ago.
So, please ,lower your expectations.
I guess it is what Poch meant to say.
Now, please, hear what I am saying. The only reserve that would allow the new coach to improve the results short term is to make under-performing players to perform better. It will not make them younger, but some of those are still fairly young. The only method known to coaches to improve performance is relegation to the bench. Spurs are not large in quantity for that, they are thin to begin with, plus they are decimated with injury, but most importantly are involved in way too many competitions for their thin squad. Therefore for the new boss (or the old one) to rule with iron fist, the club has to remain in in EPL only and get out of FA Cup and UCL as soon as practical. That what will happen with a new coach. That what Poch would like to do as well in order to keep his job and to keep Spurs afloat. After that, regardless whether Spurs just avoided relegation or made the Top 4, the personnel changes in the squad may be started.
Does Poch want to keep his job? I am not sure, but he will not resign and will leave millions behind that way. So Poch will stay, but Levy will not allow him to bolt out of UCL and FA cup ties. That way Poch will be very much limited in his ability to bench under-performing players, the club reeling may continue.
We have not reach the bottom of Spurs free fall as of yet. COYS!!!

 

Yeah the subs were baffling to say the least. No need winks to come on. Thought ndombele was our most industrious and creative player but ok he comes off but just move lo celso in field and bring on moura or sessagnon for width pace penetration and it will also discourage thier wing bks and or overlapping centre halves to come out and effect thier high press. To later move lo celso infield shows the first sub was in fact a wasted one.

 

Just watched MOTD - yep we were shite and very, very lucky. The VAR decision for the disallowed goal - 3mins 47 secs - totally ruining the match day experience. Poch's post match comments....you lose the will to live.

 

We're there already Thomas, 3 points above 4th bottom.....when will DL act...

 

Totally agree that we're in a far worse position than we were in 2014, chiefly because the dynamic free-scoring Harry Kane, given a first-team run by Sherwood, is now half the player he was, knackered through over-use by Pochettino and Southgate, and without his goals and all-round excellence, Pochettino's 'transformation' is revealed as the sham it really is. The development of young players is a myth, the improvement of older players is a myth, the ability to spot talent elsewhere (if anyone actually believed he had anything to do with our tiny number of transfer successes, that is) is a myth, and with Kane's continuing loss of sharpness, the reality of the fitness coach pretending to be a manager is well and truly exposed as the biggest myth of the lot. If another club still wants him, they're very welcome - West Ham maybe?