OMT: Mighty Spurs vs Brighton & Hove Albion

[Raziel]

Do Var hear the match commentary?
A big difference in Gary neville description of Romero and Udogie tackling to that pair last night.
How dunk wasn't red carded and balbena never even got a yellow is a total mystery.
According to the BBC website we conceded six fouls, they led to two pens and two bookings.
Bha had 18 fouls and two cards. And those stats don't count the fouls balbena made and "advantage" was played.
I've been told we're the most fouled team in the league, yet have one of the worst card counts.

After the 2nd goal, the tally was

- Spurs, 3 fouls, 2 yellow cards
- Brighton, 11 fouls, 0 yellow cards

The highlight of that brick was the Dunk tackle and the run Udogie made and must have been fouled at least 4 times .. but hey "advantage" played

It's so clear that small/tactical/shirt pulling fouls is clearly a tactic teams have adopted against us to break the flow of our passing game, and until it's leg breaking (and then maybe) the refs do fudge all about it .. frustrating ...

 

[Kandi1977]

Unlikely Phrase Of The Season....

"I'm not looking forward to playing Bournemouth next!"

Solanke will get another hat-trick.

 

[Legohamster]

They were clear pens though
But we lost because of the attack…
The wastefulness with the passing and overkill was awful

I'm not sure that's the case, if Brighton hadn't been wasteful it could have been 3/4 by half time.

 

[Bishop]

I thought they both delayed too long too.

Maybe, but he was looking down the likes for both, he could and should have stayed in line with the defenders until the pass was made imo.

 

[Baleforce]

Maybe, but he was looking down the likes for both, he could and should have stayed in line with the defenders until the pass was made imo.

It’s about timing, ball and player need to make the move at the correct time.

 

[JerusalemMan]

Solanke will get another hat-trick.

He's going to be feeling very good going into the game. I wonder what defensive line-up Ange will choose

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I'm not sure that's the case, if Brighton hadn't been wasteful it could have been 3/4 by half time.

And we could have scored too
We were wasteful with final balls
It’s how the game swings

 

[glasgowspur]

I thought they both delayed too long too.

Six of one, half dozen of the other for.
It's a new system, still bedding in, but we're getting there.

 

[tommysvr]

I know there is a lot of stick flying about for the goal, but honestly you'd be happy if shoots from there 99 out of a hundred.

Yep, I know I just posted those screenshots but I totally agree.

 

[P.D.]

He has been working on his strength for the past few seasons.
When Solomon is back he will drop down the order.

Solomon hasn't done anything of note, felt like an opportunistic signing at the time.

 

[Raziel]

Solomon hasn't done anything of note, felt like an opportunistic signing at the time.

It was/is but he stays involved all game and offers more defensively and keeps energy up (critical in this system).

Would have been a great option in Everton game to pull Johnson when we were 2-0 up and put on Solomon (still fits system, still goes forward but doesn't hide)

 

[glasgowspur]

Yep, I know I just posted those screenshots but I totally agree.

I'm no defensive genius, but looking in the box I think we have the cross fairly well covered, he's taking a hit because they're a comfortable couple of goals up and it's a freebie.
Just our luck he scores.

 

[Baleforce]

I'm no defensive genius, but looking in the box I think we have the cross fairly well covered, he's taking a hit because they're a comfortable couple of goals up and it's a freebie.
Just our luck he scores.

Should still be closed down.

You do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.

 

[Bishop]

And that’s the kicker
If we don’t give them a chance we will never know
What we do know is we have a knackered front line and a CB pairing that is full backs being played out of position. The games we have done that in we have lost… that’s factually correct
I can’t see his playing a younger centre back would produce a worse outcome than losing

It's been a fine line at times. Yesterday nor the West Ham match were down to the CBs chosen in that respect he didn't make a decision that was directly culpable for the goals conceded and the losses.

I agree it would be nice if some of the youth team could be involved but if the coach genuinely doesn't think they are ready then we just have to accept his view.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

It's been a fine line at times. Yesterday nor the West Ham match were down to the CBs chosen in that respect he didn't make a decision that was directly culpable for the goals conceded and the losses.

I agree it would be nice if some of the youth team could be involved but if the coach genuinely doesn't think they are ready then we just have to accept his view.

We have no choice but to accept his view
But the time to try them is when we need players
When he gets all the players in he wants… he won’t need to play them and the risks and expectations are higher

 

[jrh]

We have no choice but to accept his view
But the time to try them is when we need players
When he gets all the players in he wants… he won’t need to play them and the risks and expectations are higher

He's been consistent here, when asked about youth he's basically said if you're good enough you're old enough.

That pretty clearly spells out he reckons some of the young guys aren't ready yet. At least by ready to start in PL games. Not that hard to grasp is it?

 

[Jurgen the German]

I get we have a ridiculous number of injuries but we’re really not helping ourselves with the amount of suspensions we’ve already had. Bissouma x3, Romero, Udogie x2 now Kulusevski. Ange really needs to sort the team out when it comes to discipline as we already have a paper thin squad and these suspensions aren’t helping.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

He's been consistent here, when asked about youth he's basically said if you're good enough you're old enough.

That pretty clearly spells out he reckons some of the young guys aren't ready yet. At least by ready to start in PL games. Not that hard to grasp is it?

I’ve never heard him say that
I do know he never played youth at Celtic either
Can’t comment on other clubs
Maybe the question should be… with the record of playing full backs at centre backs being horrendous, would you be worse off trying out a younger player who actually plays there. See how he reacts to that

 

[tommysvr]

I get we have a ridiculous number of injuries but we’re really not helping ourselves with the amount of suspensions we’ve already had. Bissouma x3, Romero, Udogie x2 now Kulusevski. Ange really needs to sort the team out when it comes to discipline as we already have a paper thin squad and these suspensions aren’t helping.

Poor discipline definitely plays a part, but the lower bar for several types of yellow cards this season doesn’t help either.

 

[Robspur12]

Couldnt believe the amount of stuff I was seeing on the internet today about how Ange should play Philips from people who’d never seen him play. Players really do become better when they aren’t in the team.

The lad has played 8 games in the Championship, he’s 18 and would be coming into a team with no recognised centre back beside him away to a really good premier league side. You have to trust the manager on these calls - to me it would have been insanity to throw him in tonight.

I agree with the general gist of your post Deano. However, if I am playing devil's advocate, it is then borderline negligent of the club to start the season with just 2 recognised CBs. If Dier is not to be trusted, Sanchez deemed to be surplus to requirements and Phillips too young to start, do we play the games when our main CBs are unavailable with fullbacks filling in? If so, on yesterday's evidence we are likely to lose more games.

If you watch yesterday's game again it is clear that the defence in its current incarnation is lacking leadership and drilling on the basics. There were several occasions when the defenders were bunched together leaving Brighton's attackers unmarked. They scored their first goal because of it. The lack of decisiveness in the defence causes other players to panic and make rash decisions hence the penalties. Add to that Royal's passing when under pressure is not good. As I said before, I trust Ange, but I hope he has a plan to improve our defending.