PLAYER RATINGS: Besiktas 1 - 0 Spurs

A moment of lackadaisical defending from Spurs allowed Turkish league leaders Besiktas to steal a 1-0 win on home turf in our final game of the Europa League group stages.

The first half had been interrupted by a floodlight failure which saw the players stuck in the tunnel for just under 15 minutes, but early during the second period attacker Cenk Tosun latched onto Olcay Sahan’s cross to bundle home in front of a helpless Michel Vorm.

Roberto Soldado was once again guilty of missing guilt-edged chances in both halves, but thankfully for the luckless Spaniard the results of previous weeks meant Spurs were already through to the next round as runners-up.

Player Ratings

Michel Vorm - 5 – Had little to do but was slow off his line for the only goal of the game.

Kyle Walker - 7 – Our brightest spark at the back, a breath of fresh air as a right back for certain. Got to the byline countlessly but did look wary of aggravating his injury. Hopefully fit for Sunday.

Vlad Chiriches - 5 – Definitely an accident waiting to happen at the back but just got away with most of it tonight. Caught out by the ball over the top for the Besiktas goal.

Younes Kaboul - 5 – Was on hand to clear most of the threat from crosses but has to be at fault for the goal conceded. Allowed Tosun in front of him to poke home and came under intense scrutiny.

Danny Rose - 6 – Got forward well from left-back but final product was once more the issue. Won a few corners thanks to his running but as usual, set-pieces were atrocious.

Benjamin Stambouli - 5 – Undoubtedly skilful on the ball but lacked the deep-lying creativity provided by someone like Mason or Bentaleb. He also runs like he’s running in treacle.

Mousa Dembele - 5 – More mobile than usual and looked somehow quicker, but hardly made an impact when employed as a 10.

Paulinho - 5 – Put in the side to provide energy but the whole team lacked it tonight. Unsure of his position in the team, certainly not the creative number 10.

Nacer Chadli - 6 – Ran the channels willingly but was caught offside on countless occasions. Eventually made the move to centre-forward as Soldado dropped out.

Andros Townsend - 5 –Another disappointing Europa League outing from Andros who failed to bring the spark that the side needed. Rarely ran at his fullback and looked reluctant to cross or shoot,

Roberto Soldado - 4 – He simply cannot go on missing the chances like the one he did tonight. The “lack of confidence” can only be blamed so many times, but Soldado wasn’t up to it tonight.

SUBS

Etienne Capoue - 6 - Didn’t make an impact.

Erik Lamela - N/a

Aaron Lennon - N/a

A largely disheartening night followed a largely disappointing weekend to be a Spurs fan. Tonight’s game was far from entertaining, and the situation with the stadium floodlights only prolonged the agony.

For some reason Poch didn’t take the opportunity of free qualification to blood yet more youth, a tactic which has proven successfully recently, especially with the likes of Josh Onomah on the bench.

True, it isn’t a game that we should be calling for the manager’s head over, and looking forward to the festive period and subsequent packed diary is all we can do.

Cant Smile Without You.

 

You were obviously not watching the same game as I was. Walker was at fault for the goal (not Chiriches, Kaboul or Vorm as you stated). Chiriches played well, as did Kaboul, Dembele, Stambouli & Paulinho but we were sadly lacking up front and out wide. We kept possession well without creating much, particularly lacking bodies in the box when we got into good crossing positions.

 

I couldn't care less about the importance of possession. If we touch the ball 6 times, all of which are shots on target and 2 go in and we win 2 nil then that's job done. Shoot more, score more it's not rocket ****ing science.

 

Team of fringe players produced a fringe outcome. Sad.

 

You're actually both wrong, it was Chadli and Kaboul who were at fault. Kaboul ball watching as he does best and Chadli ran out of the box leaving Walker with two men. Chiriches and Kaboul were abysmal. Main person at fault though was Pochettino. Again.

 

We were dreadful throughout the team -did we have a shot on goal in the second half? Besiktas didnt even have a full team out-I dread to think what Demba Ba would have done to our back 4!

 

It was Kabouls initial mistake giving the ball away which led to the shot that hit the crossbar and then led to the cross which walker never attacked while in the air ,or was I watching a different game.

 

Kaboul dear oh dear what's happened to this boy. Dembele rating extremely harsh. We just lack creativity guile and of course a killer touch. Think two centre halves are needed and I'd bring ashley Cole in from Roma in Jan. Poss Micah Richards and Winston Reid. Jay Rodriguez konopkplaya and one from bony or benteke. Also demba ba be a good addition and the striker from shakhtar Adriano is running his deal down. The squad needs a complete rebuild for me.

 

I posted this on another thread, sorry for posting twice, this was where i should of posted it !
I dont normally comment it has to be said. But our club took soo long throughout the Enic years to really build a side that i felt could challenge the big boys and to see it dismantled over the last 3 yrs or so is heartbreaking. you may knock Redknapp and lets be honest he had his limitiations, but to see Bale, Van De Vart, Modric, Ledders all on the top of there game was a site to behold. Quick football, people running off the ball, penetrative passing, the eye for an angle, we even looked ok at the back.....sometimes.
And now look, we have literally gone backwards which is exactly where our passing goes most of the time. We are not prolific enough in front of goal, which in turn means more pressure on what is a dubious back line at the best of times (sorry but our full backs are shockingly bad, FAzio loves a red card, Chiriches isnt suited to pace of premiere league, Verts has his eye on a move, and Kabould is prone to all sorts). Our midfield CANNOT move the ball forward at pace in areas that matter. Its amazing how much we miss that little magician Modric, how he could turn defence into attack with a little drop shoulder turn and ball into space. Now everything is neat tidy and to feet, but bloody sideways the whole time. Bullshit possesions stats with no end product.
I am sorry but until this manager can ship out the players he doesnt rate and bring his own in we are destined for mediocrity. I just hope that in the last 3rd of the season we put a good run together (with a few Jan additions to assist) and finish strongly to give us hope for next yr. Because lets face it this season and the last 2 have been complete right offs.
rant over, apologies for length of post LOL
COYS

 

Another shambolic performance! Yet again Townsend was totally useless - quite why he made the England team or why Poch continues to give him game time evades me. Rose continues to think he is a left wing rather than a full back, and was not getting back fast enough (or in a couple of cases AT ALL) from his forward runs. Paulino showed a bit more grit than in the past, but brought little to the display, although Demebel looked string, his shots were weak, I just thank God Walker that looks to be back - the rest of the defence was appalling. Poch is not the manager hat he appeared to be at Southampton with some very suspect team choices and substitutions. All in all pretty depressing yet again, and not much to provide any hope for the future. COYS.

 

Boy, are you on the spot! The ratings in The Mail were from a different game than I saw. We seemed lackadaisical; I think I can find more energy in a dead battery than what spurs showed in toto.

Kaboul must go. Chiriches, too. I also have pretty much given up on soldato and Lamela doesn't seem to know how to create space, just run into a lack of it and believe he can magically weave his way through. What a pitiful lot. Dump soldato and get Defoe back. Adebayar can stay in Tonga. Can't imagine how long it will take to develop a reliable central defense.