One of our own with get out of jail card

Phew! That was a pulsating cup tie. Both teams made wholesale changes and I have no problem with that at all. The changes gave others a rest and still showed that both teams are up for the cup this season.

Spurs started brightly and I thought Carroll, who was harshly treated by some last week, played well again. He broke up play well and his passing was good.
Chadli huffed and puffed a lot but his lack of match sharpness showed. With more fitness he could of had a couple of goals this afternoon.

Alderweireld looked less confident without Jan at his side and Vorm is poor. We could do with a back up keeper who fills you with confidence. Vorm does not.

Son has great feet but he dilly's and dallies when if he got his shot away he might do better. That will come with time.

Now. Mr Eriksen. A good goal but my goodness does he frustrate!!!!! His corners are dreadful at times and I just cannot understand how such a wonderful dead ball specialist can be so bad at corners.

Bentaleb did okay when he came on and Alli had little time do have much impact. One note on Alli though. His challenge near the corner was poor and he needs to watch himself. He was lucky not to receive his 9th yellow card of the season.

Both Leicester goals were gift wrapped as if it were still Christmas. The first was basic defending. Far too easy. The second was embarrassing with Toby and Wimmer falling over before the ball played pin ball and gave Leicester the lead.

From then on Spurs tried everything but nothing worked until with 2 minutes to go, the ref gave a penalty. And it was harsh in my opinion. Dyer had his back to the ball and although his arm is out, if that had been at the other end, I would still be shouting now. I'm not even sure how the ref gave the decision as he could not see the incident. Hopefully my brother and father behind the goal screaming "penalty" with a few thousand others did the job?!!

Up stepped Kane and he finished with power. Two each and it's back to the King Power for a replay that neither side would really have wanted, but for Spurs it means we are still firing on 3 fronts this season.

Now we have to get ready for a huge game on Wednesday night back at the Lane. Against our top 4 and possibly title rivals... Leicester City.

The race is on and as ever...Come on You Spurs!!!

 

Ali has to learn to calm down,he really is starting to pick up card's we can not afford to lose him,we live to fight another day,COYS

 

Think todays game was a stark reminder that if Kane was to suffer an injury our season is effectively over.
Need a proper Supplementry/Secondary striker asap.

 

This all goes to show that we need experience in depth and a quality striker who is an out an out centre forward enough of this versatile player type we need a goal scorer!!

I am not sold on Berahino he may still be immature and that can have dressing room probs but he knows the PL. A foreign player may not know the PL and will need time - we need someone to hit the ground running literally.

Let us see what levy has in mind - it better be good and make sense.

 

Carroll was better today, agree with u Matt.

However, we looked incredibly vulnerable at the back; Vorm really is a concern. He was a good keeper at the Swans but looks average when he is between the sticks for us, each and every time.

As for Eriksen and his corners... FFS, how can it be that hard to hit the penalty spot and miss the first man?

We got out of jail today. Yes we have another game but I'm glad we are still in the competition. For a club such as ours, an exit from the 3rd round is wholly unacceptable!

Let's make sure we do the Foxes Wednesday and take all 3 points.

COYS

 

Levy has to bring in the striker now, not waiting to the last day if it means we have to pay a bit more so be it,I still think Son can do the job but he needs a good run so next year will be his season maybe Carrol can step up for a while or even Alex but this is long term, we need a striker now...COYS

 

Every1 can see we need another striker. Let's just hope Levy delivers this time and not at the end of the window.

For me, the preference would be to bring in someone that has PL experience.

Berahino wouldn't surprise any of us. However, the price could. I wouldn't get involved unless it is IRO £15/17m. But that acquisition may bring its own baggage, whilst some positives too. The safer bet, albeit a different player, is Austin. More than affordable, good attitude, puts a shift in, physical and offers something different i.e. a plan B Poch! He would accept being back up to Harry. No brainer.

 

Thought today showed the need for a central midfielder with some power. Carroll and Erikson togethet too lightweight and a proper stricker as back up to Harry. Big if to be able to do these deals in January. If we do confident of top 4 and maybe even title push. Vorm major concern if Hugo was to get injured. Most of us thought this back in summer and nothing has changed. The back up is not strong enough. Must say not keen on Berehino so fingers crossed for a rabbit out of hat or Charlie Austin

 

The problem with Berahino is will he play second fiddle to Kane he play's with Kane for England but he will not settle for the bench,Eriksen again proved he need's to spend time on the bench a fantasic player but only in periods,Austin,I'm not sure of,many people on here rate him but I'm sure Poch has had a look and would have put a bid in Jan 1st if he thought he could do the job..

 

Plenty of guts about the performance today, which isn't something I normally say after a draw in the third round. I like the tenacity, but Christ are we lacking technically with our second string. Really missed a focal point in attack, and that bit of guile was missing. Wouldn't be surprised to see Eriksen go, unfortunately, he just doesn't fit the system unless he's down the middle. Where he should be.
Tough ask for Son to play down the middle, especially against that fat sh*t Wasislewskunt. Vorm looked dodgy.
Tom Carroll, again. To me, he won't ever make it. He made Alderweireld look bad for the second goal. Here's how I see it personally:

If Okazaki comes inside, then cuts into his left foot, Alderweireld expects Carroll to win the ball on Okazakis left foot. So Alderweireld naturally shifts to stop Okazaki shooting on his right foot.

What happens is, Okazami cuts inside, Carroll isn't strong enough, Okazaki cuts onto his left foot, Carroll proceeds to fall over, Alderweireld has committed to Okazakis right, meaning all the striker has to do is move onto his left hand side, where he has space to get a shot away.

It makes sense in my head. But to me, Carroll is at fault there.

He just frustrates me so much. Bentaleb isn't massively better, mind. Much prefer Alli, Dembele in that role. Shame the latter's injured, we miss him.

 

Let's be fair if kane and dembele start we win the game. If one if not two are out we struggle in them two key positions. No striker is going to sign to play second fiddle to Kane. They have to have belief that they are good enough to dispossess Kane or force Pochy into a change of system or to split game time between the pair. Strikers are normally the most confident players on the park and so they should be..
My biggest disappointment is that one wasn't in before today thus to avoid a replay and maybe negate the need to use Kane at all.

 

Tom Carroll was immense today and his passing was a joy to watch. He makes passes that very few players can and he makes it look easy. He is getting more confident and better with every game he plays.

Spurs went flat after Carroll went off. They lacked the spark and were less effective after he went off.

Fans that only focus on his physical build and whether he can put in a strong tackle are deluded. In a top team, you need players who are great at different things.

David Silva is a special player who is very effective in the premier league and who is not built like Mike Tyson. Modric was great for us and was not a muscle man.

 

Totally agree. People are picking faults harshly and in my view unfairly. With more game time and encouragement, Carrol can be an asset to the team.

 

Fair article with two points in particular I agree with.I've been banging on for ages about the quality of Eriksen's corners and also the fact that he fades in games,he just doesn't have the influence he should.
Also good point regarding Alli,he's starting to make rash challenges which will see his card count lead to suspensions which won't help the team.
I thought Carroll was reasonably good today,but we missed the Moose.His physical presence is vital.
Whatever has happened Vorm since he came to us puts us at a disadvantage is he is given a start ahead of Hugo.He just doesn't inspire confidence.I think a younger hungrier back up is the way we should go.

 

Guys, lets be honest, this was a second string side and we have not been more dominant all season. Lets call us a work in progress. I just checked the stats on Barcelona's game against lower league opposition yesterday and our passing stats are on par with them. Not half bad me thinks. Only one striker we should be going for that could slot straight in and it would make me happy on every front. Anyone remember that half decent Dutchman named robin van persie? I reckon 15mil will gt him although wages will be big. Bring RVP Levi. Hes the man to steer us to the title. As much as he may of loved arsenal he didn't win **** with them and would probably love another shot at a title.

 

The key thing here is-

Tom Carroll is not and never will be a David Silva or Luka Modric.

Ever!

 

We should go for Berahino and Austin in this window.Both have EPL experience and can score goals and I'm sure Poch knows how to get the best out of Berahino.Plus we have Townsend to offer in exchange as I understand Pullis fancies him.Kane and Berahino have performed well together for England so know each other's game.
To accommodate these two Son should be a sub as should Chadli,both of whom to me don't offer enough.Assuming we get past Leicester we have enough games coming up to keep everyone happy.

 

Well it's true that he speaks neither Spanish nor Croatian but these are definitely the type of players he should be modelling himself on. Tom has impressed me with his last few appearances and he still seems to be the only midfielder able to play an incisive pass more than once in a game.
Criticism of Vorm is unfair - sit on a bench for half a season and see what it does to one's confidence.
Onomah looked better than Eriksen, Lamela, Chadli or Son in recent times. Looks like it will soon be a front four of Onomah, Alli, Pritchard and Kane - if their mums let them stay up for the evening games!

 

My biggest concern at the moment with Spurs, and I am enjoying their football with Poch, is the inability to hold a lead.
We seem to be letting leads go quite often at the moment, resulting in a few draws.
Also it seems teams are letting us play keep ball for the first half and then in the second attack us .

At 1-2 yesterday I thought Leicester were more interested in the 3rd goal more than we were in getting our 2nd. Not in any way saying we do not care, just wondering if we as a team are becoming complacent and presume that with our possession dominance the players think they have 'done it' . Possession does not win games, goals do. We have scored a good amount, just want more .

That leads me to Kane...we need another striker desperately .. Not a back up, one that may take Kane's place. Kane can drop into the number 10 position or even perhaps we could go two up front if needed. This is not being critical of Kane, he is just about my favourite player at the moment.

Would have liked to have seen Austin at Spurs, not interested in Berahino personally ..

Onto Wednesday now, both teams to be at full strength, should be an excellent game .. COYS

 

It is a interesting line up with the four kids,all are hungry to play and can give passion to the team,I can not see Poch playing all of them at one time,throw in Son into the mix and we have a solid spine for the next few years...