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**** OMT Tottenham Hotspur FC v Bodo Glimt ****

Frank didn't underestimate them. The facts are he recognises the requirement of rotation, but our squad just aren't good enough which some people find it really hard to comprehend fo some reason.

We have played two average at best CL teams and looked pretty poor in both. This squad is not ready to compete seriously in the CL which is fine - we just need to manage expectations....
There definitely is a need for rotation and we really do need to avoid another injury crisis like last season.

Frank did have options to play with more risk and ambition in our possession play even with the rotating he did. Gray or Bergvall in one of those deeper midfield roles for example. But him being somewhat risk averse he's going to go for the more defensively solid option most of the time. Which is fine, as long as he over time finds ways to improve our possession game.

Alternatively we could also make changes to our buildup structure. Bentancur dropping back, full backs higher, Sarr and Bergvall swapping places in the buildup phase. But again, some risk with that.
 
take this point, but we were missing them last season on the same ground, and didn’t face anywhere near the same level of threat from Bodo then. We were missing Romero, but I think the difference in performances were stark.

Bodo were in a mid season/end of season break when the last games rolled round and were missing 3 or 4 first teamers iirc - chalk and cheese.

I was very worried about our games last season, not just because of our form going in to them, but because of everything I'd seen and read about them as a team - last night showed why.
 
Bodo were in a mid season/end of season break when the last games rolled round and were missing 3 or 4 first teamers iirc - chalk and cheese.

I was very worried about our games last season, not just because of our form going in to the games but because of everything I'd seen and read about them as a team - last night showed why
Obviously a lower level team, but a very well coached/drilled team who also have a couple of players at least who are way above "their level". At home, first CL game at home, the pitch, the atmosphere. Never going to be easy.

And another game where some of their strengths (pressing, themselves being rather press resistant) match well with our weaknesses (in their favour).
 
I do think Frank set us up to contain instead of control and attack. I think if we are going to progress, the central midfield players and full backs need to break. Too many times we had the ball at the back and we had 7 options in our defensive third,.... That just invites the press
 
I actually think more than anything here I need to remind myself of my pre season expectations. I think, now that the season is underway I’ve got a bit sucked into it all again and maybe lost track of where my thoughts were before the first game.

I said that I would be happy if Frank could get us qualified in Europe next season, so another EL run or hopefully CL. I also said that it would be harder to win something this season due to the step up between EL and CL, but I still want us to really go for the league cup and the FA cup.

I think we were left in a really bad state last season despite a great cup win, but I think as much as that cup win was fantastic and a life long memory, I think I’d forgotten just how much it covered up how atrocious the rest of the season was. I thought we did ok on the summer, Palinha, Kudus and Simons coming in, though equally Solanke, Maddison and Kulu then being injured removed the same amount of quality.

I think we’re a long way off in terms of players overall, and really need a couple more windows at least until we see the effects of some, hopefully, good buys. I think perhaps I lost track of my realism because I think Frank has made a good start, however I think I need to remind myself that this is basically a rebuild job in some areas and that this group in large parts haven’t played with any sort of tactics or plan for a long time and need to be set back into them and forget bad habits.

So as bad as last night was, and as much as it annoyed me to watch, I think I need to remember my pre season expectations and maybe realise there are going to be times like this for a season or two.
 
I agree except I don't think the "second string" is woeful. Unbalanced, but a lot of the players are fine in and of themselves. But our lack of ball progression qualities makes it dysfunctional as a team.

I normally rate what Brooks has to say and once again fully agree with him.

Only trying to progress the ball on the flanks isn't going to be enough.

Fine for now, but definitely needs improving over time.
It’s such a basic tactic and easy to address as the opposition
 
I actually think more than anything here I need to remind myself of my pre season expectations. I think, now that the season is underway I’ve got a bit sucked into it all again and maybe lost track of where my thoughts were before the first game.

I said that I would be happy if Frank could get us qualified in Europe next season, so another EL run or hopefully CL. I also said that it would be harder to win something this season due to the step up between EL and CL, but I still want us to really go for the league cup and the FA cup.

I think we were left in a really bad state last season despite a great cup win, but I think as much as that cup win was fantastic and a life long memory, I think I’d forgotten just how much it covered up how atrocious the rest of the season was. I thought we did ok on the summer, Palinha, Kudus and Simons coming in, though equally Solanke, Maddison and Kulu then being injured removed the same amount of quality.

I think we’re a long way off in terms of players overall, and really need a couple more windows at least until we see the effects of some, hopefully, good buys. I think perhaps I lost track of my realism because I think Frank has made a good start, however I think I need to remind myself that this is basically a rebuild job in some areas and that this group in large parts haven’t played with any sort of tactics or plan for a long time and need to be set back into them and forget bad habits.

So as bad as last night was, and as much as it annoyed me to watch, I think I need to remember my pre season expectations and maybe realise there are going to be times like this for a season or two.
Good post. We finished 17th last year. To jump from a 17th placed finish to top 4 or top 6 is a massive ask even given the circumstances around last season's campaign.

Frank's going to need time to get the team playing as he wants. At the moment, it's a pretty poor watch but it does look like he wants defensive solidity more than free flowing attacking football because last night and against Wolves, we never really got forward at pace in any numbers. And that's fair enough - most conventional wisdom suggests you have to build from the back.
 
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