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***Spurs vs West Ham Untd***, PL, 13th September 2025 at The London Stadium

Tel was making his first start this season and as striker. Xavi was making his debut for us. Xavi has also had very little time in training.

So there was no cohesion between the front players. It’s like how International players can have all the quality but lack cohesion when playing as a team. Give it time and it will come. Even if it seems unlikely that Tel will ever be our regular first choice striker.

I mean I did say something like that in my post
 
The xG was low because we hadn't got a CF attacking the balls put in, especially at corners. If a proper CF got on the end of a couple of those and would either score or create a dangerous situation.
Definitely think that would have changed things a bit.

But I also think we need more variety in our attacking threat than we showed in that first half.
 
Understat has us with an xG of 0.24 at half time.

I agree that some ref decisions could/should have gone our way, that would have changed that. We also had several situations from set pieces and crosses where smallish margins could have seen us create better chances.

Just also think we need to improve our chance creation in open play. And that the second half makes the first half look better than it was.

It's yet another front three we've started who've never played together with each other, let alone that midfield. I think improvement would be impossible not to occur, and this was a great performance.
 
Frank very pragmatic here, knowing they can't defend corners and then forcing 8 (was it?) in the first half alone was impressive. Encouraging that both our box to box players scored, I don't think we should play both Bentancur and Paulhinha against midtable teams (a problem against Bournemouth). To be honest Pauhinha seems like he can do the deep defensive side by himself, his passing is more than good enough for his position too. Amazed City didn't look at him for their woes in CM. Pahinha or Bergval (has that confidence you really can't buy) MoM.
 
Real complete performance for 60-70 mins. The standouts were Judus and Bergvall but also thought the centre halves were dominant and showed controlled aggression.

Still laughing about the goal that was disallowed. Even Alan Smith thought it was harsh that the goal was disallowed 😂

One thing that continues to impress me is the care and attention that has clearly been dedicated to set pieces. We don’t ever want to rely on them but in close games they can make the difference if you can nick a goal from a corner or a throw in.
 
Frank very pragmatic here, knowing they can't defend corners and then forcing 8 (was it?) in the first half alone was impressive. Encouraging that both our box to box players scored, I don't think we should play both Bentancur and Paulhinha against midtable teams (a problem against Bournemouth). To be honest Pauhinha seems like he can do the deep defensive side by himself, his passing is more than good enough for his position too. Amazed City didn't look at him for their woes in CM. Pahinha or Bergval (has that confidence you really can't buy) MoM.

I love that he saw the weakness and attacked it, was a clear pre planned tactic.

That’s what I want from my manager, pragmatism, not principles, points are everything.
 
Real complete performance for 60-70 mins. The standouts were Judus and Bergvall but also thought the centre halves were dominant and showed controlled aggression.

Still laughing about the goal that was disallowed. Even Alan Smith thought it was harsh that the goal was disallowed 😂

One thing that continues to impress me is the care and attention that has clearly been dedicated to set pieces. We don’t ever want to rely on them but in close games they can make the difference if you can nick a goal from a corner or a throw in.

That's a legit understandable typo but he deserves better lol
 
I think it's fair to say we've struggled to create from open play these past couple of games - far too early to be concerned about it though imv and it will be interesting to see how things develop there over the course of the season. New signings will help, as will returning players from injury. Carrying a genuine threat at set pieces will help in the meantime as will being solid at the back.
 
That's a legit understandable typo but he deserves better lol

No I actually meant it 😂 it was a tinkle take at West Ham fans. In all seriousness, I thought he dealt with their fans reaction really well, helps that their fans are so far away from the pitch. He was cool and composed and put in an excellent performance. Showed them what they were missing.
 
I guess there is a big difference playing as a striker for the under 21s and in the EPL.

Methinks you are right though, and I hope we see him more on the flanks than as a striker.
Although he will probably start as a striker against Doncaster
Thought the Everton lad played striker for the France 21s and Tel played wide
 
I think it's fair to say we've struggled to create from open play these past couple of games - far too early to be concerned about it though imv and it will be interesting to see how things develop there over the course of the season. New signings will help, as will returning players from injury. Carrying a genuine threat at set pieces will help in the meantime as will being solid at the back.
This is something that will be underplayed and barely get mentioned whilst winning and in the honeymoon stage of Frank. But when we go through a bad patch this will get mentioned more.

Frank has always been about being solid and has a big focus on gaining advantages from set pieces. Nothing wrong with that, but if you're expecting to see great football I think people are going to be disappointed. Yes we have superior players to Brentford but his style is not going to change just because of having better players. And yes we can all sit here and say 'It doesn't matter, after the last manager I just want to see my team being sold' etc etc but I've seen/ heard it all before when the likes of Conte was in charge.

All seems great until results don't come, which will happen at some point and then let's see how great our super non fickle patient fanbase is. Season two is always the test for our mangers, we've had several false dawns. But credit to Frank for all the work he's done to date....
 
No I actually meant it 😂 it was a tinkle take at West Ham fans. In all seriousness, I thought he dealt with their fans reaction really well, helps that their fans are so far away from the pitch. He was cool and composed and put in an excellent performance. Showed them what they were missing.

Aah brilliant work tbf. He did. He's clearly just about the footy. Him scoring st the end there would have been amazing
 
This is something that will be underplayed and barely get mentioned whilst winning and in the honeymoon stage of Frank. But when we go through a bad patch this will get mentioned more.

Frank has always been about being solid and has a big focus on gaining advantages from set pieces. Nothing wrong with that, but if you're expecting to see great football I think people are going to be disappointed. Yes we have superior players to Brentford but his style is not going to change just because of having better players. And yes we can all sit here and say 'It doesn't matter, after the last manager I just want to see my team being sold' etc etc but I've seen/ heard it all before when the likes of Conte was in charge.

All seems great until results don't come, which will happen at some point and then let's see how great our super non fickle patient fanbase is. Season two is always the test for our mangers, we've had several false dawns. But credit to Frank for all the work he's done to date....
Two fantastic controlled easy away wins at very tough teams
Home is where he will need to be more pragmatic and attack more
 
I think it's fair to say we've struggled to create from open play these past couple of games - far too early to be concerned about it though imv and it will be interesting to see how things develop there over the course of the season. New signings will help, as will returning players from injury. Carrying a genuine threat at set pieces will help in the meantime as will being solid at the back.
Arsenal struggle to score from open play and always finish second.
 
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