Clicking into place

Another 3 points today and richly deserved. Yes, Palace hit the post and had some chances but overall only one team deserved to win today and that was Tottenham Hotspur.
Alli playing in a deeper role was a risk but I was again impressed with his effort and skills. The way he got forward from deep belied his years and he is a real find. Yes he has much to learn but so far he looks more than the real deal.

Lamela was far from perfect today but that was his best all round performance in a Spurs shirt. Our goal came from him battling, wining the ball and moving the team forward. He looked much more confident today and I hope he keeps that up. I am not his biggest fan but if he builds on today maybe he can start delivering for Spurs.

Kane worked hard but made more mistakes than any other player today. His passing was off target and his header early on was dreadful. That said, he still made space for others and his goals will come. After such a superb season last year, the focus was always going to be on him and it is about how he and his manager deal with that.

The defence looked more solid today. A few nervy moments but overall much stronger, especially Toby and Jan. Walker was erratic but worked hard, Davies was better but still doesn't fill me with much confidence. Going forward he carried a threat but in defence he is sloppy.

The main difference today though was Son. He ran at players, something we have sorely lacked, can use both feet and is not afraid to shoot.

The team looked so much more coherent today. At long last.

There are still improvements to be made but today was a good Performance with intent and, at times, great quality.

Bring on the Woolwich Wanderers. What chance Kane breaks his duck?!

As ever, Come on You Spurs!!

 

I agree, easily our best performance. What I liked was our speed of play was much quicker and we were prepared TP hit more early balls. For a 19 year old Deli Alli's all round game was impressive. Lot's still to learn but already having more impact than Dembele in my opinion. Great to see Lamela in the game for most of the match. A 1st but if he can build on that perhaps he can be the player we would like. Son was very impressive and it looks like we may have signed a real talent. Hugo's save world class only Chadli disappointed me today along with walker's poor distribution. All in all a well deserved 3 points

 

reflections.....Tight game, usual 2x5 across their goal, no early goals.
Pleasing performance with many good performances.
Hugo top class and you only get to see how good his save was from Sako when you watch the TV replay. Also Alderman and Verts played well. Full backs a bit of a worry, although Walker looks fit at last.
Thought Dier had a great game, missed nothing and worked his socks off.
Ali, Lamela, Son allot in a shift and I agree with Matt that this was the best we've seen from Eric in the lilywhite. Harry was quiet. Chad like bone idle and unless he scores is a total waste of space.
Great to see the Dane back and to see Lamela, Eriksen and Son break at pace to get the goal.
Well played lads - now a couple of games to test us.
COYS

 

It was a decent performance, thats about it.
Son and Alli are making a difference as both are mobile and have actuall football intelligence.
Ive mentioned it a few times before aswell weve lacked in recent years players just simply willing to take responsibility on the pitch.
We now have 3/4 players that are willing to so this is the bright side for me.

 

Agreed. Some good signs on Thursday and today. Whilst we still have weaknesses, it's a step in the right direction.

 

Yes agreed. We need Rose the step up his game, cut out the fouls and bad back passes. COYS

 

Fair play to poch with a brave formation and starting 11 only one natural holding mid v a team very quick on the counter attack. Prob get punished v better sides but I like
To see diff fformations depending on being home or away and the quality and shape of the opposition. Would like to see chadli phased out now with Andros lamela Njie all scrapping for a start. One surely can emerge and fulfill thier potential. Dembele and eriksen also to feature in the EPL.

 

Wouldn't see Dembele playing much of a part now tbh. Just doesn't do enough when he plays.

 

Absolutely gutted to have missed the game (well, all bar the 4 mins of stoppage time) so unfortunately (for me and you both ) I am unable to give any real analysis/ assessment as far as events within the match are concerned.

What I can say, though, without any shadow of a doubt, is that a win against a powerful, resolute, athletic and technically sound Crystal Palace side, is a FANTASTIC result, nowadays - especially on the back of our victories last week.

And by all accounts the lads played really well, which will, accompanied by the 3 points, do the squads levels of self-belief the world of good with tough games against Arsenal and Man City fast approaching on the horizon.

Another HUGE plus, today, has to be getting the desired result, against good opposition, without a crop of key players, which can only bode well for a club that hopes to be involved in a large number of games this season.

I read somewhere, today, that concerns still linger over the likes of Son's ability to cope with the physical demands of the English Premier League, but as I've ALWAYS said, providing the player has MENTAL capacity to adapt, then physicality needn't be a factor - especially when talking about offensive minded players.

I am NOT saying strength/ power doesn't help, but it isn't by any means a prerequisite in order to succeed in the top-flight of English football.

David Silva, Coutinho, Hazard, Sterling, Lennon - and before them Zola, Overmars, Giggs, Juninho etc - are/weren't ever going to win any tug of wars with most of their opponents, but they weren't expected to... and these players understood that!

They knew they would have to use their INTELLIGENCE, along with their skills and the other attributes they possessed, to become successful in this country. And so they did.

THIS IS WHAT LAMELA MUST DO IF HE WANTS TO FLOURISH IN THIS LEAGUE!!!

Listen, the kid has PLENTY of talent, but talent, without a shrewd mind to direct, harness and make full use of it, has NEVER been enough...Take it from The Ram!

Hopefully, for Spurs supporters all over the globe, the penny is beginning to drop for the young Argentinian because if it does Spurs could easily find themselves with a £30+ player on their hands (excuse the irony)

I am REALLY willing Erik to come good, as it's been a long time since I have seen a player with his ability display the kind of appetite both ON and OFF the pitch to succeed at a club. In terms of attitude, from what I've gathered, the lad is 2nd to none!

And he has improved, perhaps coincidentally (but probably not), since yours truly sent him a couple of tweets (last season before the Newcastle/ Southampton away fixture) encouraging him to add more variety to his movements, predominately in OFF the ball situations, and knowing when to use his turn of pace, as opposed to simply adopting a pass & move strategy.

But, hey, the kid can follow my, or Poch's instructions all he wants.... yet it is ONLY when he develops the confidence that will lend itself to the rhythm with which he plays, will he become the player I KNOW he CAN be.

Although it might sound obvious, a couple of (important or special) goals, in that respect, will do him the world of good!

On another note, both Son and Njie look like players who can both add CONSIDERABLY to what Spurs are doing at the moment - with neither man looking like it will take them too much time to settle (especially Son).

The ONLY downside to their arrivals, however, is that it looks like it's going to push the extremely talented and exciting Alex Pritchard even further down the pecking order, in terms of 1st team opportunity's. Another loan beckons, I think.

I'd love to see him go to a Villa or Norwich and get some game time in the EPL.

 

Ramos, You would have loved watching Son. Along with Alli we have two fantastic prospects. Son is so strong, skilful, quick and 2 footed.
We still made mistakes today but what team doesn't. Overall we looked like a team with a plan. At last.

 

Dier was also fantastic today, and is getting better with every game. COYS

 

Agreed. Got a bit of Freund about him.

 

If you go through the team as a whole you can pick a number of players who had good games....
Hugo, Toby, Verts, Dyer, Lamela, Son, Alli......
Less good.....the full backs.
Harry seems to be feeling the pressure that being the key striker brings to your game, when you don't score - like Aguero at this time.
Chadli, being lazy, is a luxury for me, no goals then no place. It's like playing a man down. I watch him to see how much he puts into his contribution to the team...he's not great, as chasing back into his own half seems to be something he has yet to learn. Goals please or he is a luxury we just don't need.
Looking forward to the Gooners.
COYS

Also....seeing the younger players who are not getting a start like Pritch....let's use as many of the youngsters as we can in the early games in the Europa games.

Given the adverse impact from this competition on past results, travel/fatigue as you progress, there might just be a solution to the shortage of first team opportunities for these lads.

 

Totally agree with ramos lamela was fantastic and easily the best player who gives it his all for his team.

 

Seriously?

Lamela was not the best player he is a headless chicken who stumbles his way through games.

 

However, whilst our centre backs (Verts and Toby) + Dier and Son were really good, Lamela has a tendency to provide assists for goals but continues to be a frustrating enigma.

What Poch needs to do with Lamela is get him a shrink to work on his confidence, and to shoot on goal more regularly. Poch also needs to train him on how to ghost past an opposition player without sodding around. If there is no improvement by the end of the season, then he must be sold, and we need to buy a more effective player who can do those things. COYS

 

Be interested in seeing how strong we go weds v the goons.

 

Agree with a lot of previous posts. To add my own, I must say Dier was outstanding and fills me with great confidence. As for new boy Son, how exciting to see a Spurs shirt flashing forward at the defence. Very exciting.

 

Hugo was the best player for me