• Dear Guest, Please note that adult content is not permitted on this forum. We have had our Google ads disabled at times due to some posts that were found from some time ago. Please do not post adult content and if you see any already on the forum, please report the post so that we can deal with it. Adult content is allowed in the glory hole - you will have to request permission to access it. Thanks, scara

***OMT CARABAO CUP FINAL TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR V Emirates Marketing Project***

Man of the match


  • Total voters
    46
  • Poll closed .
Countless free kicks in both first and second half, either just in side our half or in their half, were just passed back to the centre halves or finished up with Lloris.
Agree, we were promised ambition but when we had possession it was a game of Hugo to a centre half, rinse and repeat. The formation gave them midfield control. Grrr.........
 
It's been a tough few days, and I've really struggled to process the final and how it went.

It was abysmal for the most of the game. And it would be very easy to do what many (most?) seem to do, dig ourselves right into the muck of self-pity, despair and downright anger.

However, I think I'd like to try to find the more positive bits and bobs to be salvaged from the game, hard as it might be.

For 17 months we've been screaming at Mourinho's Spurs being to low. I can assure you, Mourinho would never have allowed Moura and Son to stay that high up the pitch when out of possession, and not in defensive transition. It didn't work out, but I for one, actually were pleased to see that we did that. In the game we won against City earlier this season we basically had our wingers outside our own fullbacks in the same situations.

Dier and Alderweireld finally seemed to be able to defend again. Some great blocks, tackles and quite all right performance on the whole. Lloris suddenly rediscovered how to block shots at the near post, as well as making several good saves.
And in offensive transition we saw a few glimpses of what we can hope will evolve into a more exiting attacking pattern, more Pochettino-esque and less Mourinho, if you like. Again, it didn't work out as well, we were far to indecisive and the rythm was way off, but the signs were there. And, if the Gods of Football™ had been on our side, we could have done a smash'n'grab on the day. We wouldn't have deserved it, but worse things have happened in football. Usually to us.

So it wasn't much. But I prefer to focus on that, and to look forward. We now have a full week of training, full of hurt and pain. I hope the players and Mason use that for all it is worth, and let Sheffield United feel our suffering tenfold. Focus all the energy and desire into that game now, and let it rip!
 
Said it at half time and Carragher pointed it out last night, our CBs had no option. Part of that was City's pressing but a major part of it was lack of movement in front of them from the midfield 3. They were hiding.

Yeah, seen the clip doing the rounds. Winks has been like that for years but Hojbjerg looks worn out and guess Lo Celso needs to shake off the rust after 2 years of persistent injuries.

As bad as Ndombele was against Southampton he’s still the best midfielder in our squad and has shown in CL that he isn’t intimidated by €iteh.

 
Said it at half time and Carragher pointed it out last night, our CBs had no option. Part of that was City's pressing but a major part of it was lack of movement in front of them from the midfield 3. They were hiding.

That, but also, when trying to build from the back, you need to have a way of creating the neccessary space yourself. If the pressure is to intense, and you can't drop further back to allow yourself more time, you need to go long a few times. We tried, but not long enough in the first half. We went semi-long, and then lost the duel. By precisely putting a few long balls in behind the opposition defence, with quick players threatening, you not only have the potential to create a break, but you force the defenders to turn and run facing their own goal. A few of those, and they will inevitably start to drop of a bit earlier, thus creating more space in central midfield.

The theory is easy enough. And it works. But it is absolutely dependent on precision in the long balls, and while Toby were one of our best players, he had a rough 50% pass completion on the long balls. Dier had 4 out of 4, but it was clearly Toby who were designated longball outlet. For the most of the first half, they were not long enough, nor precise enough.

We don't have the players, system, confidence, what have you, to out-guardiola Emirates Marketing Project. So if you want space to play, you need to manufacture it.
 
That, but also, when trying to build from the back, you need to have a way of creating the neccessary space yourself. If the pressure is to intense, and you can't drop further back to allow yourself more time, you need to go long a few times. We tried, but not long enough in the first half. We went semi-long, and then lost the duel. By precisely putting a few long balls in behind the opposition defence, with quick players threatening, you not only have the potential to create a break, but you force the defenders to turn and run facing their own goal. A few of those, and they will inevitably start to drop of a bit earlier, thus creating more space in central midfield.

The theory is easy enough. And it works. But it is absolutely dependent on precision in the long balls, and while Toby were one of our best players, he had a rough 50% pass completion on the long balls. Dier had 4 out of 4, but it was clearly Toby who were designated longball outlet. For the most of the first half, they were not long enough, nor precise enough.

We don't have the players, system, confidence, what have you, to out-guardiola Emirates Marketing Project. So if you want space to play, you need to manufacture it.
Confidence is key
Its worth so much to a player
Confidence in themselves and confidence in the system
Mason talked about it afterwards where referring to 5 days vs 5 years of an approach
 
That, but also, when trying to build from the back, you need to have a way of creating the neccessary space yourself. If the pressure is to intense, and you can't drop further back to allow yourself more time, you need to go long a few times. We tried, but not long enough in the first half. We went semi-long, and then lost the duel. By precisely putting a few long balls in behind the opposition defence, with quick players threatening, you not only have the potential to create a break, but you force the defenders to turn and run facing their own goal. A few of those, and they will inevitably start to drop of a bit earlier, thus creating more space in central midfield.

The theory is easy enough. And it works. But it is absolutely dependent on precision in the long balls, and while Toby were one of our best players, he had a rough 50% pass completion on the long balls. Dier had 4 out of 4, but it was clearly Toby who were designated longball outlet. For the most of the first half, they were not long enough, nor precise enough.

We don't have the players, system, confidence, what have you, to out-guardiola Emirates Marketing Project. So if you want space to play, you need to manufacture it.

Your point re long balls is a good one but Carragher is spot on.

upload_2021-4-27_9-59-14.png

This is where Winks got the ball and ultimately turned around and took the easy way out. Neither Hojbjerg or Lo Celso is in the picture. That's unforgivable. So now Winks has to drive into space and risk being pressed or play a longer, riskier pass to find a team mate. In the end, he takes the easy option. Hojbjerg, Winks and Lo Celso did that repeatedly in the first half. The CBs had no option but to knock it long or sideways to the full backs. When the full backs got it, City pressed us, when it went long, it inevitably came back to us.
 
Your point re long balls is a good one but Carragher is spot on.

View attachment 11720

This is where Winks got the ball and ultimately turned around and took the easy way out. Neither Hojbjerg or Lo Celso is in the picture. That's unforgivable. So now Winks has to drive into space and risk being pressed or play a longer, riskier pass to find a team mate. In the end, he takes the easy option. Hojbjerg, Winks and Lo Celso did that repeatedly in the first half. The CBs had no option but to knock it long or sideways to the full backs. When the full backs got it, City pressed us, when it went long, it inevitably came back to us.
So it’s a combination of midfielders being scared of doing something of risk and also not showing for the ball
I think that’s fair considering the lack of confidence and time they may have had with the changes needed. I actually thought a wind half we did much better in that area until we brought on sissoko, which is why we were getting that bit more progressive with the ball
 
So it’s a combination of midfielders being scared of doing something of risk and also not showing for the ball
I think that’s fair considering the lack of confidence and time they may have had with the changes needed. I actually thought a wind half we did much better in that area until we brought on sissoko, which is why we were getting that bit more progressive with the ball

Yeah second half we were much better for the first 20 mins which is not to say we were great but we were better. Lo Celso, particularly, I thought got much more into the game and took some risks on the ball.

Ndombele would have been ideal if he was interested because he’s so good on the ball even under intense pressure. However, I don’t blame Mason one bit for dropping him. His performance against Southampton was disgraceful.
 
Yeah, seen the clip doing the rounds. Winks has been like that for years but Hojbjerg looks worn out and guess Lo Celso needs to shake off the rust after 2 years of persistent injuries.

As bad as Ndombele was against Southampton he’s still the best midfielder in our squad and has shown in CL that he isn’t intimidated by €iteh.



Difficult to argue with carragher on any that.
 
Back