***Official Match Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Saudi Sportswashing Machine 8:15pm Tuesday 2nd Dec. ***

[treepits]

What one was that, can’t think of a similar incident in that game?

To be fair, there are similar incidents in almost every game. There were similar incidents in the same game last night

 

[Kandi1977]

its obstruction, he's got no idea where the ball is, just stopping the movement of another player

If its obstruction, it's an indirect free kick, so would be the wrong decision regardless! But the ref literally says it's holding after the review. It's a shambolic decision!
Burn has Bentancur in a headlock, and just lean over him and makes himself fall over.

 

[braineclipse]

If its obstruction, it's an indirect free kick, so would be the wrong decision regardless! But the ref literally says it's holding after the review. It's a shambolic decision!
Burn has Bentancur in a headlock, and just lean over him and makes himself fall over.

There's the standard amount of holding. Then Burn tries to run through or over Bentancur with them tangling together. Not even an obstruction imo.

Burn half arsed appealed, looking like he knew it was never a penalty.

 

[SpurMeUp]

• Where both players are involved in simultaneous and similar actions (mutual holding), play should be allowed to continue.

This is the guidance to refs. So wtf!

 

[Robspur12]

• Where both players are involved in simultaneous and similar actions (mutual holding), play should be allowed to continue.

This is the guidance to refs. So wtf!

There's an additional rule about not looking at the ball and impeding an opponents play.

 

[elyid]

Quick Google shows Liverpool fans think Tierney is corrupt and has links to Saudi, or is certainly cosy with them (the Saudi league attempted to get him to ref over there).

Maybe as the game has changed so much in this regard the league need to start considering conflict of interest for referees and introduce some extra rules.

I.e atm Tavistock group could dangle the carrot of a highly paid consultancy contract in front of an existing ref. They’d then just naturally be reluctant to screw us over. Seems wrong.

 

[Baleforce]

Quick Google shows Liverpool fans think Tierney is corrupt and has links to Saudi, or is certainly cosy with them (the Saudi league attempted to get him to ref over there).

Maybe as the game has changed so much in this regard the league need to start considering conflict of interest for referees and introduce some extra rules.

I.e atm Tavistock group could dangle the carrot of a highly paid consultancy contract in front of an existing ref. They’d then just naturally be reluctant to screw us over. Seems wrong.

Of course they do

 

[SpurMeUp]

There's an additional rule about not looking at the ball and impeding an opponents play.

Its guidance to refs rather than a rule right. How long are you allowed to look away from the ball? This guidence is a bit of a difficult one to impliment. What if your on the ground - or there is a player infront of you? It is a bit unworkable.The both grappling one ismore simple and applicable in this instance. Both VAR and the ref can clearly see that Barnes is pushing forward into Bentancur who's trying to stand his ground. Barns is also grappling him and has him in a clear headlock! How could you possibly look at the ball in that action when your head is being held!!?

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

To be fair, there are similar incidents in almost every game. There were similar incidents in the same game last night

Yes I know there are and no one ever calls for a penalty, nor should they.

However baleforce was saying we were all screaming for a penalty against a West Ham player for exactly the same thing as Bentancur was doing last night and that he thinks it should be a penalty. I don’t remember that same incident in the west ham game at all?

 

[SpurMeUp]

Are you on the troll here mate? If so, please don't. Thanks.

Not trolling, you refered to facts, but when they don't fit your arguement someone is trolling? All seems a bit childish. Frank's setup and our play will improve as the team settles. If we give it a bit of time. My point was the attack is in flux. It needs to settle. Which really shows when our CBs are among our top scorers.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Yes I know there are and no one ever calls for a penalty, nor should they.

However baleforce was saying we were all screaming for a penalty against a West Ham player for exactly the same thing as Bentancur was doing last night and that he thinks it should be a penalty. I don’t remember that same incident in the west ham game at all?

He is referring to the holding on VDV
It’s similar but different
For example bentacur wasn’t ever holding, more obstructing and that was all before the balls was in play
There is a reason why the ref didn’t give a penalty and their players didn’t complain

 

[glorygloryeze]

Very happy with the point.

Still highly frustrated with our gameplay, player decision-making and the subs: almost every game the subs seem to make us worse.

Hopefully a turning point in our season. Must-win game vs Brentford and ZERO excuses if we don't win imo

 

[johnola]

“So we’re all ball watching now are we Father?”

 

[NaijaSpurs]

I listened to the Stick to football podcast this morning, and even Alan Shearer admitted that was not a penalty - that says it all really.

 

[glasgowspur]

Burn and Bentancur are almost at the back post, it's almost impossible for them to see the ball, why would they be looking at a stationary ball when the man you are marking is moving.
While you watch the ball the opposition score, how many times has a goal been scored when a defender has been accused of ball watching.
It was a terrible decision made by someone who does not understand the game.

 

[glorygloryeze]

Also, don't the likes of Bruno, Joelinton and Burn do the same as Bentancur in just about every game when defending corners??

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

Think the biggest difference between this game and the Fulham game was that while in both games the other team was better from the off Fulham punished us twice and Saudi Sportswashing Machine didn't.

Had Saudi Sportswashing Machine scored in that opening 25-30 minute period where they were clearly on top I think it ends up as a repeat of the Fulham game.

We're very dependent on getting through that opening 20-30 minutes without conceding when teams press us high from the off because we struggle so much with ball progression when they do that. When we're able to sustain attacks and progress the ball we see that we have quality to do stuff.

But good fight and mentality in that second half and good signs towards the end of the first half when they couldn't press as much.

We're about a third of the way through the season. Gray and Bergvall are about as far from being integrated into deeper midfield roles as they were when the season started.

Said it before, but putting Sarr in for Palhinha or Bentancur as one of the deep two does very little for our ball progression. And if he doesn't have the freedom to make those big runs ahead of the ball he's just another DM who is uncomfortable under pressure. Less comfortable under pressure than Bentancur.

We have options. Those two younger players. Inverting the full backs, we know they can do it. Have Bergvall drop drop in buildup if he plays as a 10 and Sarr to push up. Or we can just keep booting the ball in the general direction of Kudus and hope he does brilliantly.

Did they really create anything of note in that first 30 minutes? They definitely had territory, but did they create an overload, or a 1v1, or some chance where it would be harder to miss? I don’t recall one. And I think that was the plan working in action.

Clearly when you have that plan, you can’t concede 2 goals in 6 minutes. But I thought last night when we needed to stop them, we largely did. And when we needed to raise the tempo, we did. That’s different from a lot of other games we’ve seen, and I view it as progress.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Also, don't the likes of Bruno, Joelinton and Burn do the same as Bentancur in just about every game when defending corners??

Every team does it en masse
It’s a poor poor call from the officials and one that won’t be repeated for a few weeks

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

Did they really create anything of note in that first 30 minutes? They definitely had territory, but did they create an overload, or a 1v1, or some chance where it would be harder to miss? I don’t recall one. And I think that was the plan working in action.

Clearly when you have that plan, you can’t concede 2 goals in 6 minutes. But I thought last night when we needed to stop them, we largely did. And when we needed to raise the tempo, we did. That’s different from a lot of other games we’ve seen, and I view it as progress.

Agree, it was FAR from perfect but it was an improvement on what we’ve been served up recently.

That being said, it drives me mad how we need 2 touches to get it under control and in a place where we can pass the ball. Then when we do pass it’s behind the player and not for him to run on to, meaning he takes 2 touches to get it in front of him… and so on and so on…

 

[Finney Is Back]

Did they really create anything of note in that first 30 minutes? They definitely had territory, but did they create an overload, or a 1v1, or some chance where it would be harder to miss? I don’t recall one. And I think that was the plan working in action.

Clearly when you have that plan, you can’t concede 2 goals in 6 minutes. But I thought last night when we needed to stop them, we largely did. And when we needed to raise the tempo, we did. That’s different from a lot of other games we’ve seen, and I view it as progress.

I think they had one very early on where their player slid in and mit hit the ball onto his other leg? That was it though really.