*** OMT Tottenham Hotspur v Eintracht Frankfurt **

[MKSpur]

It was an improvement, we can see why a left footed rwf with a bit of guile would have a great addition in the window, perhaps dependent on us offloading Gil. Richarlison should be competition for Son or Kane.

The effort was there, we seemed to panic in the final third which became worse the longer the game went on.

Thought midfield pair did well, wing back remains an odd one though. Hope Doherty or Spence can take it up a notch over the next 3 prem games when Conte is forced to play one of them!

 

[DubSpur]

Essentially, we don't have enough quality/form along the back 5 for this system to bear fruit at the moment. If those back 5 are on song, we'd walk that game. Royal with a swinger not really a threat on goal, when a quality player burriers that early chance. Perisic not really on it yet either on the other flank. Langlet, Romero not yet in fluid form or able to step out into midfield. Only Dier looks settled.

This leaves the 2 CMs and Son and Kane with too much to do imo. Especially when we have games in quick succession. More needs to come from that back 5.

Seriously, what are you smoking?? The back 5 weren't the prob, it was fully on the forwards. They had enough chances to win the game and that doesn't include the passing moves they messed up.

 

[SpurMeUp]

100% this. We just seem to be trying to transition too quickly and that's not just tonight but pretty much every game this season, how many times has Sonny played an overhit pass this season and the drop off in quality balls from Harry is alarming, they haven't suddenly become crap at those things it has to be something Conte is asking them to do. It just looks so panicked all the time and it's not fun to watch.

There is logic to it, don't get me wrong. Our aim is to get in before the opposition defence gets set. And we often create chances like this. But the price we pay is giving up control of the game. We ceed possession so often, and we help teams like Frankfurt build confidence as they get the ball back constantly. Against better sides like the scum, you will be undone if you give up possession so easily.

The other issue is that Kane and Son don't get to focus enough on runs and scoring. The balance isn't quite there yet. The WBs, CMs and CB need to contribute more so the goal scorers can do what they do best. Without Kulu we lack creativity so Kane and Son end up trying to be creative.

I thought Conte might take off Richarlison and add Bissouma to try to allow the midfield to be the creators and Kane and Son to attack and play off the last man.

 

[billyiddo]

Seriously, what are you smoking?? The back 5 weren't the prob, it was fully on the forwards. They had enough chances to win the game and that doesn't include the passing moves they messed up.

Our front 3 are off form individually and the current 3 have not found rhythm as a unit - once this resolves itself things will start to look a lot better

 

[SpurMeUp]

Seriously, what are you smoking?? The back 5 weren't the prob, it was fully on the forwards. They had enough chances to win the game and that doesn't include the passing moves they messed up.

We need more from them. Royal needs to bury a shot into the back of the net. A CB needs to score a header etc. Can't always rely on Kane and Son, especially when games are every 3 days. We don't have those performances from them at the moment. So its all on Kane and Son. If Kulu is out too, we lack support because the WBs, and CBs are not really fully in form. When you have 3 CBs at the back, you need them to step out into the midfield. Dier had one run which was promising but that was it. Those 5 players for me, are holding us back a little.

 

[Nexus1967]

Our main problem this season is our forwards just have not clicked so far. I know Harry is 2nd highest scorer in the Prem so far, but Harry Son and Richi up front just has not gelled. We miss Kulu massively. A few better balls in the final 3rd tonight and it would have been a much more comfortable watch. Hopefully Harry and Son will click again and we will start being more lethal

 

[FolkestoneSpur]

There is logic to it, don't get me wrong. Our aim is to get in before the opposition defence gets set. And we often create chances like this. But the price we pay is giving up control of the game. We ceed possession so often, and we help teams like Frankfurt build confidence as they get the ball back constantly. Against better sides like the scum, you will be undone if you give up possession so easily.

The other issue is that Kane and Son don't get to focus enough on runs and scoring. The balance isn't quite there yet. The WBs, CMs and CB need to contribute more so the goal scorers can do what they do best. Without Kulu we lack creativity so Kane and Son end up trying to be creative.

I thought Conte might take off Richarlison and add Bissouma to try to allow the midfield to be the creators and Kane and Son to attack and play off the last man.

Oh I agree, I've worded the end of my post wrong. I can see what we're trying to do but like you say I too would just like Conte to be a bit more flexible.

 

[Rorschach]

Decent game, quite enjoyed that. Front 3 were well off it in the final third unfortunately, but on the whole much more aggressive.

That is the way I saw it too. Front 3 were not on it but I quite liked that we were engaging further up the pitch for a change. We certainly should have bagged a few.

 

[SpurMeUp]

Oh I agree, I've worded the end of my post wrong. I can see what we're trying to do but like you say I too would just like Conte to be a bit more flexible.

I actually respect his stubbornness. He has a vision, he has to follow it. But we need more from certain players. I guess we have to remember Lenglet is only in his first few games still, Perisic not many more. Romero just getting his form back, and Royal is improving, even if it is glacial.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

We need from them. Royal needs to bury a shot into the back of the net. A CB needs to score a header etc. Can't always rely on Kane and Son, especially when games are every 3 days. We don't have those performances from them at the moment. So its all on Kane and Son. If Kulu is out too, we lack support because the WBs, and CBs are not really fully in form. When you have 3 CBs at the back, you need them to step out into the midfield. Dier had one run which was promising but that was it. Those 5 players for me, are holding us back a little.

Rubbish again
The defence is there to defend… we kept a clean sheet
The defence does step out into mdifeield. Did you not see when Lenglet was down our left wing but Perisic gave him an awful pass
The Dier one you mention
The 2 from Romero at the weekend

what’s holding us back is final balls and passes. There is no excuse for professional players not to be able to pass short distances well… but right now we have several that cant

 

[SpurMeUp]

Nah
The defence was fine today
It was all in weak passing in attack, same as arsenal
I agree they could better and we have seen them play better but the defence isn’t 5here to score the goals
We had chances and again missed passes or skewed shots… that’s not on the defence

But we have to get goals from other players. We can't always rely on Kane and Son. True? If you play a back 5, then they have to contribute to attacks at least sometimes.

 

[SpurMeUp]

Rubbish again
The defence is there to defend… we kept a clean sheet
The defence does step out into mdifeield. Did you not see when Lenglet was down our left wing but Perisic gave him an awful pass
The Dier one you mention
The 2 from Romero at the weekend

what’s holding us back is final balls and passes. There is no excuse for professional players not to be able to pass short distances well… but right now we have several that cant

If there is just 3 attacking it makes it a lot easier to defend. So you need input from the rest of the team. At the moment, are we getting that? Not effectively.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

But we have to get goals from other players. We can't always rely on Kane and Son. True? If you play a back 5, then they have to contribute to attacks at least sometimes.

We have got goals from other players
But if chances are created for the strikers… their job is to take them
Or at least pass the ball to another striker
We have a DM with 2 goals, a CB with 2 goals… but two attackers in son and richy with 3 and 2 respectively.
They have to fix their game asap

 

[Bedfordspurs]

If there is just 3 attacking it makes it a lot easier to defend. So you need input from the rest of the team. At the moment, are we getting that? Not effectively.

We had plenty of players attacking tonight
We had plenty supporting attacks vs Arsenal
But the final pass was shocking. I mean schoolboy bad
That’s on the player making the pass.
We had 56% of the ball and a lot of it was in their half

 

[SpurMeUp]

We have got goals from other players
But if chances are created for the strikers… their job is to take them
Or at least pass the ball to another striker
We have a DM with 2 goals, a CB with 2 goals… but two attackers in son and richy with 3 and 2 respectively.
They have to fix their game asap

When Dier and Hojbjerg scored in a game it was fantastic (which game was that?). It looked like the rest of the team were really taking responsibility. But tonight and in most games, if we are honest, there isn't enough threat from the rest of the side. So we rely on having a front 3 that are fit and firing. When they are not, there isn't much backup.

 

[Bullet]

GHod there are some moaners on here. We did well. The ball didn't go in, but don't let that completely taint your perspective. We did well, pushed a decent side back and dominated the game.
I agree with Jenas/Hargreaves/Crouch/Conte/PEH; loads of positives, the ball wouldn't go in, but otherwise pretty good away from home in the CL.
We are in a reasonable position in the group.

Personally I would keep one of Son/Richie on the bench, to bring on when we tire. Richie was exhausted by 70 minutes, it was right he came off, he could no longer sprint. I would play a 3rd midfielder because I think PEH and Bentancur are good players who can contribute more if they have that freedom of a 3rd midfielder.

 

[Rorschach]

One thing that frustrated me tonight, always frustrates me actually, is that Son's control is brick. Even my kids are pointing it out now it is that bad. He is comically bad defensively but gets a pass for that as he's a striker, but his control is .........arrrrggghh.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

When Dier and Hojbjerg scored in a game it was fantastic (which game was that?). It looked like the rest of the team were really taking responsibility. But tonight and in most games, if we are honest, there isn't enough threat from the rest of the side. So we rely on having a front 3 that are fit and firing. When they are not, there isn't much backup.

Diets scored in 2 games
So has Hojberg (Chelsea away being a cracker)
It’s the front 3s job to score the goals. That’s their area of expertise
I didn’t expect Hugo to score

 

[glasgowspur]

One thing that frustrated me tonight, always frustrates me actually, is that Son's control is brick. Even my kids are pointing it out now it is that bad. He is comically bad defensively but gets a pass for that as he's a striker, but his control is .........arrrrggghh.

He's rushing, trying to move before he has the ball under control. Needs to take that split second longer.

 

[Mulletperm]

Jesus, lads. What are ye expecting?

A shot on target would be a good start....