Lacklustre Spurs go down in Belgium

Spurs went into tonight's game with only one defeat since the opening game of the season. Spurs have looked stronger and fitter this season so far and also much more secure at the back.
Kane was dropped to the bench and N'Jie took the mantle up front.

Dembele started after his starring role against Liverpool and Eric Dier returned to the starting 11 with Trippier and Davies taking the full back berths.
Spurs got of to a perfect start when Eriksen slotted home his third goal of the season, but from then on it was very much a case of lots of toil but no class.
In fact, there were similarities with the Liverpool game. No cutting edge and all very slow.

Townsend ran around like a headless chicken and N'Jie is either raw talent or very rusty. Against Liverpool and tonight he looked very much rusty. His ball control at times is very poor and his lack of passing ability worries me. If he is going to come in for Kane, he needs to do a lot more work on the training ground.

He has talent but he is far from the finished article and in both recent starts, I have been underwhelmed by him.
Lamela has started to show promise this season but in the last 2 games has been almost anonymous. He could do with a couple of goals to reignite that confidence that seemed to be coming.

But for Lloris , this score could have been worse that 2 -1. Anderlecht got round the back far too easily before the ball was turned into the net from close range.
Kane came on and had one decent chance but whereas last season the balls were hitting the net, he is struggling to get the ball home this term. He looks like a player in need of a good holiday. It is crazy the amount of football he has played. He is a young talent and he looks exhausted. The sooner Son is fit again, I think Kane could be given a rest with the goal scoring job in safe hands.

As I said throughout the summer months, Spurs failed to get enough back up for Kane and that is being seen right now. N'Jie does not look like a goal scorer and although Chadli is admittedly frustrating at times, his goals are going to be missed over the next 6 weeks.

There is nothing to suggest that Spurs won't bounce back from tonight's defeat but it does raise questions about creativity and goalscoring.

In our best performance of the season in the 4-1 victory over Citeh , we played at pace with width and numbers getting forward. In the 2 games since we have been laboured and playing in front of the opposition. I don't know why that has crept back into our game, but it needs to be stopped please Mr Pochettino.

We now go back to our Sunday football and hopefully Spurs will get back to Citeh style football and continue their impressive start to the season.

As ever, come on you Spurs!!!!!

 

As you watch the game develop, you look closely at the new guys, as well as seeing if the established players are on their game. Put quite simply neither were.

Poor from the full backs for me, Townsend, Lamela, plus Njie. Eriksen started well but failed to influence the match. To a great extent this was not altogether a surprise. We're down key men, know we've got no other striker and we made mistakes.

So pretty disappointing, but for me the real concern is the lack of goals and general lack of pace and width. Everybody has injuries, but if you've got a thin squad in key positions, you will suffer.....and we did.

 

Such a disappointing display but then why am I surprised. We are just not good enough in so many areas. We turned it on against city and had the opportunity to kill this game off in the first half despit Townsend, why keep picking him, he needs to go. But he was not alone tonight poor passing, selling people short, and without Lloris it could easily have been 5.

 

It was poor after Anderlecht scored their opener. It seemed to take everything out of Tottenham.

Obviously, some pieces need to be added in the January window, that much is clear.

And if you can get anyone to give ANYTHING for Andros Townsend, you're stealing from someone. Clinton is raw, but at least that guy makes intriguing runs once in a while. When was the last time you saw Townsend do anything remotely creative? 2013?

 

On tonight's viewing we showed all our flaws, totally lack of width and pace no real drive or creativity and something we should of addressed in the summer another striker! On n'jies performance I've gotta say he's no different to wat we already have he keeps cutting inside like every other wide player we got in annoys me every game where are our Lennon and bale replacements players who take players on we have none!!!!

 

Just another mention of our championship level full backs. Trippier has,quite simply,been awful, and Davies is nothing on rose

 

A very poor display and apart from three or four individuals a fairly woeful all round performance. Poch is the problem every bit as much as the players. He plays exactly the same way irrespective of the opposition or players available. His teams, like him, are totally predicatable and often boring. It is evident that possession alone means nothing, it is what you do with the ball. There is no width or pace, both wingers are inverted and it is the full backs who get forward. Yes, Townsend was poor but Lamela was no better. It would be interesting to give Andros some time wide left but that will not happen with a manager so entrenched in a system that he never changes it. Anderlecht won the game by bringing on a quick, naturally left sided player and actually playing him on the left. His pace and the width provided terrorised the back four. Tripper, who was awful was exposed. Who was our wide player that side who should have provided cover? I assume Lamela but his defensive duties seem to be convined to running around like a headless chicken and giving away free kicks. Until Harry Kane rediscovers his goal touch this is a Spurs team that will maybe finish 6th and will provide very little to get excited about. Yes, only one league defeat but also so few victories and goals. Give me Redknapps type of football anyday of the week. Spurs once entertained but not very often thses days, 11 goals in 9 league games is a clear indication of that.

 

And yet, some think Yedlin is no good.

 

Poch Bore Merchant, AvB mkII.

The striker sitch is starting to play its part, as i elluded to pre season Kane is young had a wonder season but it was a large burden on him to carry the striking role soley on his shoulders n was concerned of burn out. Burn out not just in fitness but burn out of form/confidence/spot light/pressure etc. This is where it was clearly evident we needed an experienced striker able to rotate and take the pressure off to keep Kane from suffering his own naievity.

Poch is such an average manager its embarrassing, how does he approach differing opposition/games/competitions ? Exactly the bloody same for everything no matter if its not working or the players aren't getting his mythical 'philosophy' his tried and tested formula of running around for 90 minutes with no pace, little penitrative movement, cluttering up the centre of the pitch and grinding out gritty bitty games is just the opposite to what he was supposed to be bringing. And to think he openly stated he expects to win a major trophy within 2 years- Dream on not with your 'tactical' input.

Spurs with Record Net profit of all of Europe last year couldn't buy another Striker to supplement our only 1 is nothing short of scandalous. Levy should be charged for Crimes against Spurs the Parasite.

Apart from a slight up turn in our chocolate fire gaurd defence, there is little to no improvement at all.

Utter f#cking Dross

 

Don't get this whinging over Yedlin by some , the fact he cant get in the squad in front of Walker & Tripp must tell a story .. In all honesty i don't know sh1t about him but I've suggested this before maybe he's just not very good .. Doesn't really matter how poorly the other 2 are playing if he is no better .. Obviously some seem to know their onions when it comes to U.s.a footballers but seeing will be believing for me .. In not part of the " Happy are those who have not seen but yet believe ” gang ...

 

Believe it or not, I think dross is a touch strong. We saw in the City game that we do have talent and can be superb on our day, but then hadn't that been the story with Spurs throughout history?
Both you Felon and I , spoke throughout the summer about strength in depth and attacking options and the last 2 games have proved us both right.
Kane does not suddenly look poor and is working hard. His play off the ball is exceptional but wheras every shot last year was going in, this year the ball is deflecting out, going wide, anywhere but in the goal for Spurs.

For me, Son could be the answer when he is fully fit but it's across the board we have weaknesses in depth.
Both Trippier and Davies are average at very best. Davies to be fair does okay but from what I have seen of Trippier, he is bloody awful.
Lamela is trying but still not really at the races and if we want to talk about dross, there is only one way for me to finish this post..................

AN DROSS TOWNSEND

 

With Bournemouth & Villa up next 6 points is a must as there is a daunting November coming up 3 choice derbies on the Bounce.

I wonder what system Poch will play for these?

 

You mean he has more than 1 system?

 

Dear oh dear... Where do u start.

Poor display defensively and toothless up top. Poch needs to flex and look at his tactics a little more closely. I'm not buying his standard and repetitive quote post match "this is football..." No mate, you need to mix things up when needed; every1 can see it but him. I believe N'jie will come good and we need Son back soon. Harry is knackered, shot of confidence and is a marked man this season.

Still on a positive, the Pool choked at home. New manager, same old s*ite! Reckon it will take Matthew Kelly a little while to work his miracle on merseyside.

 

Will someone tell me why our defenders turn away with their arms behind their backs look at anderlechts first goal. Trippier,Davies,Njie are very poor and will never make it at spurs.

 

This is one away game with a lot of players injured and some players playing a lot of games and maybe some players not playing enough games, to play well players need time on the pitch, We have good players coming back, Son is a goal scorer and that's what we need at the moment, Mason and Bentaleb will come back in but they will take a few games to be at their best. Ali has been very good but he like Kane are young and need a rest or face being burnt out. Spurs will hit back on the weekend but we need some of the injured players back.

 

Very, very Spursy... No energy, no pressing, no emotions, not even running. It's not the defeat, it's how they lose. Sad...

 

I think Poch the PE Teacher may need to Refer to the Sacred Scrolls of Bielsa.

 

I don't know if you're like me. I looked forward to last night. A good test, not too far for the team to travel, sitting cosily in front of the TV with a beer.....then the game started. Chances early, a goal...felt even more cosy.
Then they woke up and we were overrun. All the weaknesses were exposed...no pace, poor full backs, inverted wingers, striker shortage......ffs.
As it unfolded in front of me I turned to looking at my iPad rather than watch the Spurs. Extremely poor form.
What with Nice But Dim as coach and Ming as Chairman we are totally rogered.
Sad or what.....COYS

 

Like my fellow Lillywhite's, I too was hugely disappointed last night. If we want to be serious about moving forward and getting ourselves into the 'top four', then we should be winning these types of matches.
Last night finally cemented in my mind that both Townsend (headless chicken, son of Ronny Rosenthal) and Dembele (i'll play when I feel like it but I don't ever want to shoot thank you very much) HAVE to be sold in January. They both have ability but not the sort that will move Spur's forward.
And as for 'one of our own' Harry, poor boy looks shattered. Whereas last season he was scoring instinctively, you now see him going through a thought process which gives defenders and goalies that split second extra to set, and as last night, often missing the target. He's actually, albeit briefly, turned into Soldado. Bags of effort, loved, but lacking in confidence.
I like Poch. Their I've said it! Those who call for him to go rarely say who they would replace him with. For a team like Spurs he is about the best we can get, and for me, I'm happy to see him at our club for the foreseeable future.
COYS!