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

[Muttley]

I think we have that philosophy, but it’s probably to do it in the last 15 minutes of the first half and the last 30 of the second. At least that’s what I saw last night where pass and move looked a lot better.

I think a lot of Frank’s philosophy (piecing together his points around competing on all fronts, solidity, rotation etc) are about only raising the intensity at certain moments of the match. In comparison to Ange’s all go all the time. And I’d class passing and moving as a marker of intensity. If we’re looking to contain, we’re keeping to our positions a lot more.

I liked last night because we actually raised our intensity when we planned to. In contract to the Arsenal and Chelsea games where we never got close to it. Actually thinking back, against United we also raised intensity when we needed to.

It's definitely interesting how these cycles work. You're right in that Ange was just all out press at times. Then he was "park the bus" when we won the EL. He never found the balance between the two and some would argue he may have done in season 3. In some ways, it's quite comforting to know that Frank is at least trying to play in this more pragmatic way. It would be great to think we can change tactics and gears in the 90 mins. I know that was what Jose was all about even though he never achieved it. Conte definitely had some "rope-a-dope" about his tactics. There was no doubt about that.

It is early days for Frank, and I guess these things take time. It's not that one template works either. When we're at home against the lower sides ideally we would be the aggressor at the start of games. It will be interesting to see whether actually we are. Obviously in other tough away games he might just choose to throw in the 3rd centre half and keep it tight.

Well worth keeping an eye on this aspect of Frank's management.

 

[braineclipse]

I think we have that philosophy, but it’s probably to do it in the last 15 minutes of the first half and the last 30 of the second. At least that’s what I saw last night where pass and move looked a lot better.

I think a lot of Frank’s philosophy (piecing together his points around competing on all fronts, solidity, rotation etc) are about only raising the intensity at certain moments of the match. In comparison to Ange’s all go all the time. And I’d class passing and moving as a marker of intensity. If we’re looking to contain, we’re keeping to our positions a lot more.

I liked last night because we actually raised our intensity when we planned to. In contract to the Arsenal and Chelsea games where we never got close to it. Actually thinking back, against United we also raised intensity when we needed to.

Changing the intensity seems really important.

But being so clearly second best and non threatening in attack for half of games (first 30 of the first half, first 15 of the second) is imo not a good strategy.

Part of the benefit of defending, ceeding possession, is getting to counter attack which is typically easier than breaking down a settled opponent. Had we played like that first 30 minutes against Saudi Sportswashing Machine, but looked threatening on the break a handful of times I would be more positive.