PLAYER RATINGS: Leicester 1:2 Spurs

This Boxing Day clash at the Kingpower Stadium was always going to be a tricky fixture. Fighting for their lives, the Foxes gave it their all, but were ultimately undone by Pochettino’s men – who now move up to sixth in the table, two points off Southampton in fourth.

Today’s result means that in our last 38 victories in the Premier League, 27 of them have been by a one-goal margin.

Hugo Lloris – 8 – On top form again today. Made a string of good saves when City were piling on the pressure. Also commanded his box superbly, claiming and punching opposition crossed to ease the pressure off his defence. Good birthday all-round!

Kyle Walker – 5 - A poor game from Walker today, who was his usual self. One moment of brilliance undone by sloppy decision making. Hopefully down to the fact he’s returning from injury, but will need to improve.

Federico Fazio – 7 – It seems to me that Faz is growing in confidence. Rock at the back again today, winning 3 aerial duels (who’d have thought) and covering for his right back at times. If he can iron out little mistakes he can be a big player for us.

Jan Vertonghen – 7 – Growing a solid partnership with the Argentinian and looking back to his best. Won five aerial duels and made three successful tackles. Attitude and execution in today’s game was pleasing.

Danny Rose – 4 – Did little to convince that he should start above the absent Ben Davies. Goes to ground way too often from a defender and is caught out of position more times than not. Like Walker, struggled to contain his winger.

Benjamin Stambouli – 5 – Difficult game to come in to for his first start in the PL. Lack of mobility was exposed, as he struggled with the oppositions’ relentless attack late in the second half. Only made one tackle in 45 minutes.

Nabil Bentaleb – 4 – A torrid time for the Algerian today and I’m surprised he lasted for the entire 90 minutes without being substituted. Was unable to do the ‘simple things’ that he usually executes well. Outmuscled and outfought by Mahrez in the lead up to us conceding.

Erik Lamela – 6 – Had a solid game and early on you could see he was confident. Played a neat pass into Chadli before our goal and worked hard when we were on the back foot. Would’ve like to have seen him test Paul Konchesky more though. Improving.

Nacer Chadli – 5 – Seems to be a consistent trait of the Belgians to almost appear invisible on the pitch, but manages to do something that leads to a goal. Had no attempted dribbles and only one shot, but still provided the assist for Kane’s opener,

Christian Eriksen - 7 – Pundits may blame Hamer for the Dane’s winner, but a brilliant effort nonetheless to score. Had a passing success rate of 82% and links everything together for our front line.

Harry Kane – 8 – Showed real striker’s instinct to get onto Chadli’s cross and convert. Sets the tone for the team in how we defend from the front. Made three tackles and won five aerial duels.

SUBS

Ryan Mason – 5 – Didn’t really get a foothold in the game like he has done of recent, but did lift the side with his introduction. Made three tackles in 45 minutes and doggedly ran for the cause.

Roberto Soldado – 4 – I understand Robbie does not possess lightning-speed, but just appears to be no ‘get-up-and-go’ in him. Only had nine touches of the ball and was never a focal point for our attack.

Paulinho – N/A – Only had six minutes of play.

A win for the Lilywhites keeps our momentum going and our away from strong. Only title-chasers Chelsea and Manchester City have gathered more points away from home than us this season.

And with two huge games coming up in quick succession, this win will provide us with a fair amount of confidence.

 

Agree with most of the ratings, but would rate:

Fazio: 6
Rose: 3 (may seem harsh, but he is simply not defending the LWB position well enough - could have lead to several goals today.)
Kane: 7

Defence is still looking shaky - glad to have Lloris for keeper.

 

The only positives is the 3 points picked up away from home. we just not burying the teams we play. Im not convinced we top four material yet. Kane once again on the score sheet and Ericsson to the rescue.

Dull game as bad as the weather. Come on pochettino where is the flair and goals we need the glory days back. Coys.....

 

Just look at those player ratings.....and against a team with 10 points ffs.....we are Lloris, Eriksen, Kane a couple of modest centre backs and f all else....Soldado a 4 as a sub.....fecking hopeless.....Benteke in the window......tomorrow will reveal all. Step up to the mark lads...COYS

 

Need an experienced right and left full back.These positions have been letting us down for years.Teams attack us down the wings all the time and have been well rewarded for it.Are the people in power at WHL blind to this.I thought games were supposed to be analysed.Seems that a lot of freeloading is going on.For Pete's Sake DO something about it in January.If Mr Levy wants to get in top four to help with building new stadium you have to buy the right players - no use buying young players "with potential" in order to farm them and sell them on at a profit.None of the top clubs do this as they have top four ambitions and no doubt have clever finance teams that understand that you need to invest in the team to be a successful football club business.We might get this if ENIC manages to sell to the gentlemen from Qatar.

 

thought we was fortunate to get the win against a Leicester side who are now fighting for their lives,thought it was more like a cup game versus underdogs than a pl game but a few months ago we would have lost this game, so we are improving thought the pairing of walker and lamella starting to grow, think davies is a better defender than rose and most of our problems seemed to be on the left with verts having to try and cover 2 positions, in a better position than a few weeks ago and still people moan, hope there's no truth in the Qatari takeover, spurs are our club , lets leave it that way, don't want to become another chelski cots

 

just watched the inappropriately named Game of the Day....?If it was a boxing match the ref would have stopped it long before the end.
Some new contract rules. Those that "deserve" to be paid, are funded by those that do not. So Lloris, Fazio, Vertonghen, Eriksen and Kane are paid for from the wage packets of all of the others.

Walker, Rose, Stambouli, Benteleb, Chadli, Soldado were fecking hopeless, Lamela not too far behind. Total dross.

How did Lloris not warrant a 9...star man, by a country mile.

Perform like this against MU and Chelski and we are toast.

Leicester were hard done by to get nothing out of this when they totally dominated the second half.

Painful or what?

 

Vertonghen is getting off lightly on here. He should have conceded two penalties and been sent off. Great on the ball but shocking at reading the game.

 

I have to agree with David that Vertonghen was lucky to get away with bad reffing today.
Overall, happy with three points but I am still waiting for this exciting Tottenham football we were promised from the new man.
Lamela was okay but thirty million. Really? Am still very far from convinced by him. He showed glimpses of what he can do but he didn't exactly test konchesky.
Leicester were very unlucky today. But for the ref and the woodwork and lloris, we would have lost today.
But we didn't and we now gave two home games against United and chelscum. I Dnt believe there will be no transfer activity in the upcoming window because we have far too much excess baggage in the squad.
Xmas is done, two quick games and I still predict, as I have all season, that we will finish sixth and possibly win a trophy. I would be happy with that but I do want to start seeing better performances.

 

Why is Rose in the side. Davies has been great Rose was shocking, we were pounded down the left all match.

Loris is a true superstar.

Walker made a few mistakes but no coincidence that we have been winning and Lamela improving since he has been back from injury.

For all the "depth" of deep lying midfielders we still lack quality there. As soon as teams pressure we just turn the ball over or pass backwards.

 

Mostly agree with the ratings although Jan was very lucky with a few calls, maybe a couple of points for the ref but at least Jan and Fazio put in some effort with very little support in front of them. FBs poor,CMs poor, wingers, well we dont play wingers do we. What about manager ratings, maybe a generous 4 for me, saved by Lloris and Eriksen again.

 

Very lucky to beat Leicester,who were the better team,centre mid way to weak,Vertonghen rated a 5 for me poor attitude should of been sent of and given away a penalty Kane rated a 6 only for the goal offside 15 times and runs into trouble very overated English guy

 

dembele has to start vs utd they can't handle his presence and strength especially Rooney have not lost to utd since he's played in centre mid