Matchday discussion

7 wins from 9 is not shabby by any standard. 5 away wins from 6 is a good return indeed.

That said we were royally stuffed last term by Sheik City at Wembley (and away), so the 29th will be a good test of our real progress.

I'm less than a Lloris fan, but he was top class yesterday and saved us. We had no Eriksen, Dele, Son playing so not all bad. We played well in the first half, invited pressure in the second and nearly lost it, so let's take it and move onto City.

COYS

 

No lads - not a bad start to the season; highest points total to a PL season at this stage, yes, but considering the quality of the opposition it's what should be expected. The Manchester Utd game (and Liverpool) apart, the games have all been in "winnable" territory - very much so - though Watford was an unspeakable mess. Liverpool was always going to be a test and so it proved, so I'm not over-excited thus far. Like Baz and others have stated, we could have been beaten by a brock West Ham outfit but clung on. Points on the board certainly but performances, in the main, are far from convincing to date and sterner PL tests await, the first arriving 29 October. If we get a favourable result from a reasonable performance, not a lucky, could-have-got-wasted-but-somehow-didn't, then perhaps I'll smile a bit.

 

Unfortunately lads I think this style of football will be the most likely to get points in the next few games rather than expansive football that already got us undone badly by Liverpool and barca. A bit over the top to say we were hanging on yesterday due to lloris making a great save at the death owing to the fact it was only one nil when Kane misses a chance that he normally converts, sanchez had two good chances and numerous occasions in particular the first 15 mins or so of the 2nd half we squandered good 3 v 3 opportunities.

 

Also I think that kind of form won't have gone unnoticed by real Madrid who are set to sack their manager imminently.

 

Pochettino is flogging a dead horse at Spurs, doing a good job of it but essentially a dead horse all the same.
At some point without serious investment either he or players will seek greener pastures because the 'we do things differently projects' don't bring Trophies or big wages.

 

Just look at Hammers. They made the investments you want. Did they get a single MF that is better than Sissoko for their money? No. Granted, Sissoko is playing the best football in lilywhite, we have better players than him. They are injured. I agree we need a better depth, yet you never like the depth players, like Sissoko, anyway. You only want the best in the world. So you will never be satisfied.

 

We could be in big trouble if Madrid do come back in for him as it will be almost impossible to turn them down the second time of asking.. Especially given he was let down in the summer. No doubt his first port of call would be to come in for Harry.

 

Football, as Greavsie used to say is a funny old game, and in the modern PL world, one of very fine margins.

Sure we have been poor, but as they say look at the paper and see the results. Sure we've been flattered by 7-0-2, but we still have 21 points chalked up, which I will gladly take.

There are however worrying signs. Eriksen not yet on an extended deal, Poch being p'd off at the lack of signings, Kane looking totally off his game, England apart, no replacement yet for Dembele.

So these are irritants for sure and we will see how, despite these distractions, we handle PSV and Sheik City. I think I'd take a win and a draw, as not losing to the top 6 clubs is a must.

Two crucial character marker games for this squad.....

COYS

 

Hammers are not what they used to be. I can bet they will play Europa League next season. They are the well coached club. Our fringe players did not look dominant, therefore.
I am seeing winning both next 2 games, if Eriksen is back. Our back 4 are equal to Mancity. Our Son-Kane-Lamela trio is as good as City's no matter who they play upfront. The only problem we have is to keep them healthy, as we have nothing for replacement, unlike the opposition. That leaves MF as our lesser group. But if Wanyama plays at his 80 per cent, we will have good chance.

 

I wished I shared your opti,ism Spurporter.....

 

Having seen spurs lift trophies in the past when spurs were known as a cup team and now knowing the aim is not to win trophies but to finish in the top four makes me sad.

I love the CL so am happy spurs are in the tournament , however, a net spend of 3om over 5 years including 3 yrs in CL says it all. None of the CL money is going into player investment.

Llorente, Gkn, Kwp and Janssen are never used by Botch so why weren't they sold in the Summer? Selling them could have raised 25-30m.

Dembele, Verts and Toby can all leave in the summer for 25m. Dembele should have been sold and toby and verts made offers they couldn't refuse. If spurs lose all those players at once they will be impossible to replace especially verts.

Ce has a year and half left on his contract, why did the club allow it to go below 2yrs? Spurs should have went in for Kovicik sorry about the spelling and sold Ce if he wasn't ready to sign.

Spurs best chance of a trophy is the EPL still think city will win it but if Botch can come up with better tactics than the last time spurs played city, spurs could get something out of the game.

 

Lloris is a complete liability , he's cost us that game tonight again running about in no man's land for no reason absolute clown!

 

cant believe that idiot Lloris again.Last week he saves us this week he costs us any chance of staying in champions league.I now hope we decide to throw in the towel and don't qualify for the Thursday drag.Can anybody explain why our best player last game and our England international winks did not start instead of the walking yellow card dembele.I still think alde is not as dominant as he was especially as his buddy verts is not playing

 

Lloris had another brain fart but our defending for the goal is what cost us the game lads . Even with ten men we should have held on there .. It was chronic again , five of our lads all on top of each other on a sixpence and no one picking up their men . Our defending this year to date is woeful unfortunately .

 

What Lloris did tonight was nothing short of criminal. Those fans who travelled, us watching here, those around the world, do not deserve to pay good many, travel thousands of miles, spend loads of dough, to see the club captain commit such an error of judgement.

He so didn't need to do that. As soon as I saw him coming it was game over. His brain is F****d after the drink drive conviction. I'd sell him in January. He's been a risk for a long time.

FFS

 

Anyone can make a mistake now and then thats fine but Hugo is and has been a liability now for many a big game and big occasion , yes in the past he has pulled off some outstanding saves but when the mistakes become more frequent than the good then his position is unforgiving.
He's not commanding of his box, distribution and decision making is poor and as a Captain & Leader he inspires no confidence or drive all he has is the odd reflex save which will only decline.

 

In 2016/17 spurs had a finely balanced team, it had pace Rose/Walker, it had power Dem/wan it had a solid def, verts, Toby and it had goals ali, Ce and kane. The current team is weaker at RB and CM. Spurs could probably get away with the fb's at present however, against top 5 quality teams their weakness is exposed, walker should not have been sold.

Age and injury have caught up with Dem/wan and Dier just doesn't cut it. How a Cm was not seen as critical is beyond belief. Dier's passing is slow and predictable, spurs need a more agile quick thinking player in this role who can pass quickly and sets off the plays Axel Witsel joined Dortmund for 20m surely within spurs price range and he is way better than Dier. Arnatovic joined the spam for 25m last season i would much rather him in the squad than llorente or janssen. Traroe joined wolves for 18m i would much rather have this guy in the squad than Gkn. When spurs say there aren't players to improve the team/ squad at the right price it makes me laugh, the players are out there you just have to scout them.

 

Too much time spent playing poker with Aston Villas financial problems trying to squeeze a buck out of a deal for a very average player.
Levy is the problem and although Poch has to work with him he too looks totally uninterested during windows , Fergie would pick players up from airports etc to ensure he got the players he wanted in.
Poch likes to waffle and hide, then speaks up a little once the horse has bolted.
At the moment no CL money is going back into the team, no investment at all, the ownership are a joke debts spiralling etc

 

I reckon Poch's plan B, when Plan A is patently not working, is to keep using plan A 'til it costs us the game. Play out from the back - even though everyone knows by now that we do that EVERY time -with a goalkeeper who regularly flits from a moment of brilliance to a period of mind-numbing stupidity. Two-speed middle of the park football - dead slow and stop - and then give it to H, who by now is looking like the player he was when he first started out: slow and indecisive, seemingly (hopefully only temporary) gone are the games when he terrified defenders. Our heroes of only a season or so ago are mostly still there - Rose, Dele, Verts, Toby, Son, Eriksen & Harry - but none are delivering on a sustained basis for whatever reason. The ones I've left out - Aurier, Winks, Sissoko,Wanyama - I'm not even considering as "where are they's" and a manager who looks at his shoes more often than he does at the pitch, giving me the impression that he's become totally disinterested. Monday night looks a fast approaching train-wreck. Oh the pain.

 

Haha brilliant