***Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester United OMT***

[Finney Is Back]

The difference today was central midfield. They had Carrick and Herrera both capable of passing and creating whenever they got it.
We had Wanyama and an increasingly unfit looking Dembele.
United just sat deep and waiting for the ball to disappear into the blackhole of our midfield and all our momentum to peter out as the ball went slowly sideways or backwards.

It is nowhere near that simple..... Man Utd set up a system that would stop us from having any width. They then congested the middle of the pitch as they knew we would have to play through that area. Carrick and Herrera could pass and create when they got it because they had more space to operate in. The ball went sideways or backwards because Man Utd didn't allow us to turn over the ball with them having numbers committed up the pitch.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Manchester United away isn't what it once was, and if AVB (the 'utter clown') could beat a United side managed by Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, and Tim f*cking Sherwood could then repeat the feat a year later, Mauricio Pochettino can feasibly be expected to have at least a chance of doing so there as well. Capitalizing 'Manchester United Away' won't change that fact.

The bit about goal difference is interesting - presumably, a defensively solid team grinding out 1-0s and 0-0s could be expected to have a low GD at the end of the season, but such teams have historically tended to do far better than sides like ours - 'flair' sides scoring bucketfuls one week and getting spanked/limply losing the next. Would you not say that GD, in light of that trend, doesn't tell the full story about how effective a team is? (Not saying AVB's 2013/2014 GD was good, mind - our 5-0 and 6-0 thumpings were horrific, and deserved).

The reason why I'm comparing AVB and Pochettino has less to do with their league records at this point in their respective seasons and more to do with the fact that AVB, imo, broke a mental hoodoo with his consistent run in 2012-2013 that saw us finish with our record points tally and take the fight for 4th down to the final day in a relentless chase with Arsenal. Arsenal won, but for me, that consistency was as much of a hoodoo-breaker as Redknapp's unreal run after losing the FA Cup Semi in 2010, where we beat Arsenal (for the first time in ages), Chelsea and City to secure 4th and CL football for the first time ever.

I don't think Poch has done what either AVB or Harry did, that's all. He hasn't broken hoodoos on that level yet. Our team still fights its yawning mental demons, and collapses like a pack of cards more often than not when the pressure is on them to secure a result/play to expectations. We do our best work away from the limelight, and shrink whenever we're thrown into it by virtue of our good performances outside of it. That's a hoodoo Poch hasn't yet broken, judging by last season's abject collapse and results like this one and the one against Chelsea.

It's not like it's easy for him to do so - these are games against United and Chelsea, after all, and *not* collapsing and finishing behind Arsenal is something our club is still utterly unused to. But he hasn't yet done it, is all. And it shows in games like today's.

Erm unless I missed something he took us into the Champions League proper via a third place finish in the league.... Our best league finish since the Premier LEague started I think? Redknapp of course got us two fourth place finishes. AVB couldn't even manage one of those.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Anyone think we don't press anywhere as near as good as we did last year, looks like we don't even do the press anymore, def don't hunt in packs anymore

You cannot press a team who are continually playing the long ball.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Indeed. Their back 4 didn't have one single pass between them all game, so we could never win it back high up in their half. Not completely dead and buried yet that Mou.

Yup.... He also tried to do the same thing at WHL with Chelsea early last season (although in that game he played Hazard as a false 9 instead of using two forwards to pull wide and occupy our full backs).

 

[glorygloryeze]

Remember that it was AVB who chose to let VDV go. VDV has stated on a couple of occasions since leaving that had the manager asked him to stay he would've done so.

Surely though all of that pales into insignificance compared to the sin that cannot be forgiven or letting Defoe go and bringing in Soldado (with us having an £18 million net outlay to boot).

I know bashing AVB is almost like a sport for you, but at least get your facts right: Defoe was NOT sold by AVB and was with Spurs right up to the day AVB left the club...

 

[Bullet]

We were toothless. But Utd were fairly toothless as well. They tried to score 100 times but we stopped them having many great chances. The best chance of the game was Wanyama's header. We gave them that free pot at goal for MickeyT to score.

Meanwhile Liverpool 2 - 2 with West Ham with some absolutely hopeless goalkeeping and defending... after losing to Bournemouth from a 3-1 position... and Leicester absolutely thrash City... we should keep our chin up, anything can happen. Just ignore the Cheatski cruise and all is well.

 

[90291Spur]

José Mourinho has admitted he was not happy with Danny Rose’s tackle on Henrikh Mkhitaryan that means the Armenian will miss at least two games for Manchester United with an ankle injury.

The challenge from Tottenham Hotspur’s left-back came towards the end ofUnited’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Sunday. Rose was booked by Robert Madley and although Mourinho stated he believed the referee had a good game the manager signalled his unhappiness at Rose and said it might have a been a red-card offence if committed earlier in the contest.

“I am not happy but it is football and sometimes you go over the limit in a big match,” said Mourinho. “The referee did very well and I am happy for him because normally these matches are given to the ref with more experience, more status. I think for him it was the biggest match he had refereed in the Premier League. He did very well and probably he wanted to finish the game without a red card. He gave a yellow card and for me that’s fine.”
Last month Rose was singled out by Arsène Wenger for a tackle on Arsenal’s Héctor Bellerín that ruled the right-back out, again with an ankle injury. When defending Rose Pochettino said that football was a “contact sport” and Mourinho echoed the stance.

“When everything ends well, like with Miki, not having a big injury, let’s move on,” he said. “It was a big game, hard and sometimes a bit nasty but it was a game for men.” Mkhitaryan is expected to be available again for Sunderland’s visit to Old Trafford on Boxing Day.

What a total tosser Moaninho is, especially given how his teams have payed in the past AND his eye gouge when he was at Madrid. And while Rose did deserve a yellow Mkhitarian did what he could to draw the foul by cutting across Rose. And Wenger is a c unt too.

 

[Spurs7891]

Really disgusted with this defeat. This feels like all those routine defeats we used to suffer to ManU when Ferguson was in charge. AVB worked so hard to change our mentality and luck against ManU in away matches, getting our first win there in 24 years ! Pochettino has undone all those good works as he has now lost our third consecutive away match to ManU, all without scoring a goal ! Maybe it will take another 100 or 200 years before we can win at ManU again ! Levy should ban Pochettino from meeting Ferguson ever again. Pochettino seems to have too much respect and fear of ManU !

Really thought we would get atleast a draw in this match as ManU have been shyte this season. Instead, in a typical Spurs way, we let them have their first home win since September and even let their player score his first league goal of the season ! Kane was supposed to be our key player in this match. Thought he would get his first ever goal against ManU. Instead he was very poor and even stupidly gave away the ball in midfield that resulted in their goal. For some reason Kane has been very poor against ManU every time he plays against them. We might as well rest Kane against ManU in future.

We did dominate the match for large periods but our attack were toothless. For all our possession, we didn't look like scoring a goal the whole match. All our shots on target were direct at the goalie. Unfortunately, our best chance fell to Wanyama who should have scored with his header in the 2nd half instead of heading it wildly. Was really annoyed Eriksen wasted all his freekicks again. We really should let someone like Kane or Dier take our freekicks from now on. Alli and Son went missing in a big game yet again. We badly missed the creativity and defensive duties of Lamela in midfield.

Without a doubt, we lost this match in midfield. Wanyama and Dembe;e should have been more alert when Kane lost the ball in midfield. Similarly, our defence should have reacted faster to tackle the ManU player. It was great to see Alderweireld back in defence but he looked rusty the whole match. I think Alderweireld would have tackled the ManU player had he been at his best form.

It is always annoying whenever we lose to ManU home or away. After all they are the team who have affected us the most during the PL era. Let's hope Pochettino will learn from this defeat to prepare his team to play much better against ManU next time.

 

[Robspur12]

José Mourinho has admitted he was not happy with Danny Rose’s tackle on Henrikh Mkhitaryan that means the Armenian will miss at least two games for Manchester United with an ankle injury.

The challenge from Tottenham Hotspur’s left-back came towards the end ofUnited’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Sunday. Rose was booked by Robert Madley and although Mourinho stated he believed the referee had a good game the manager signalled his unhappiness at Rose and said it might have a been a red-card offence if committed earlier in the contest.

“I am not happy but it is football and sometimes you go over the limit in a big match,” said Mourinho. “The referee did very well and I am happy for him because normally these matches are given to the ref with more experience, more status. I think for him it was the biggest match he had refereed in the Premier League. He did very well and probably he wanted to finish the game without a red card. He gave a yellow card and for me that’s fine.”
Last month Rose was singled out by Arsène Wenger for a tackle on Arsenal’s Héctor Bellerín that ruled the right-back out, again with an ankle injury. When defending Rose Pochettino said that football was a “contact sport” and Mourinho echoed the stance.

“When everything ends well, like with Miki, not having a big injury, let’s move on,” he said. “It was a big game, hard and sometimes a bit nasty but it was a game for men.” Mkhitaryan is expected to be available again for Sunderland’s visit to Old Trafford on Boxing Day.

What a total tosser Moaninho is, especially given how his teams have payed in the past AND his eye gouge when he was at Madrid. And while Rose did deserve a yellow Mkhitarian did what he could to draw the foul by cutting across Rose. And Wenger is a c unt too.

Here's hoping he can take out any or all of Hazard, Moses, or Fabregarse on the 4th Jan. Then slug one on Conte as he walks off the pitch at full time. You know our Danny would if he could get away with it.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Really disgusted with this defeat. This feels like all those routine defeats we used to suffer to ManU when Ferguson was in charge. AVB worked so hard to change our mentality and luck against ManU in away matches, getting our first win there in 24 years ! Pochettino has undone all those good works as he has now lost our third consecutive away match to ManU, all without scoring a goal ! Maybe it will take another 100 or 200 years before we can win at ManU again ! Levy should ban Pochettino from meeting Ferguson ever again. Pochettino seems to have too much respect and fear of ManU !

Really thought we would get atleast a draw in this match as ManU have been shyte this season. Instead, in a typical Spurs way, we let them have their first home win since September and even let their player score his first league goal of the season ! Kane was supposed to be our key player in this match. Thought he would get his first ever goal against ManU. Instead he was very poor and even stupidly gave away the ball in midfield that resulted in their goal. For some reason Kane has been very poor against ManU every time he plays against them. We might as well rest Kane against ManU in future.

We did dominate the match for large periods but our attack were toothless. For all our possession, we didn't look like scoring a goal the whole match. All our shots on target were direct at the goalie. Unfortunately, our best chance fell to Wanyama who should have scored with his header in the 2nd half instead of heading it wildly. Was really annoyed Eriksen wasted all his freekicks again. We really should let someone like Kane or Dier take our freekicks from now on. Alli and Son went missing in a big game yet again. We badly missed the creativity and defensive duties of Lamela in midfield.

Without a doubt, we lost this match in midfield. Wanyama and Dembe;e should have been more alert when Kane lost the ball in midfield. Similarly, our defence should have reacted faster to tackle the ManU player. It was great to see Alderweireld back in defence but he looked rusty the whole match. I think Alderweireld would have tackled the ManU player had he been at his best form.

It is always annoying whenever we lose to ManU home or away. After all they are the team who have affected us the most during the PL era. Let's hope Pochettino will learn from this defeat to prepare his team to play much better against ManU next time.

Your problem traight away is saying they have been shyte... they have lost one home game all season which is solid form and have been suffering from draw syndrome (sound familiar)

There also far more experienced than us and off the pitch.

 

[Robspur12]

Really disgusted with this defeat. This feels like all those routine defeats we used to suffer to ManU when Ferguson was in charge. AVB worked so hard to change our mentality and luck against ManU in away matches, getting our first win there in 24 years ! Pochettino has undone all those good works as he has now lost our third consecutive away match to ManU, all without scoring a goal ! Maybe it will take another 100 or 200 years before we can win at ManU again ! Levy should ban Pochettino from meeting Ferguson ever again. Pochettino seems to have too much respect and fear of ManU !

Really thought we would get atleast a draw in this match as ManU have been shyte this season. Instead, in a typical Spurs way, we let them have their first home win since September and even let their player score his first league goal of the season ! Kane was supposed to be our key player in this match. Thought he would get his first ever goal against ManU. Instead he was very poor and even stupidly gave away the ball in midfield that resulted in their goal. For some reason Kane has been very poor against ManU every time he plays against them. We might as well rest Kane against ManU in future.

We did dominate the match for large periods but our attack were toothless. For all our possession, we didn't look like scoring a goal the whole match. All our shots on target were direct at the goalie. Unfortunately, our best chance fell to Wanyama who should have scored with his header in the 2nd half instead of heading it wildly. Was really annoyed Eriksen wasted all his freekicks again. We really should let someone like Kane or Dier take our freekicks from now on. Alli and Son went missing in a big game yet again. We badly missed the creativity and defensive duties of Lamela in midfield.

Without a doubt, we lost this match in midfield. Wanyama and Dembe;e should have been more alert when Kane lost the ball in midfield. Similarly, our defence should have reacted faster to tackle the ManU player. It was great to see Alderweireld back in defence but he looked rusty the whole match. I think Alderweireld would have tackled the ManU player had he been at his best form.

It is always annoying whenever we lose to ManU home or away. After all they are the team who have affected us the most during the PL era. Let's hope Pochettino will learn from this defeat to prepare his team to play much better against ManU next time.

Sorry mate that's Tosh I hate it when that cheap line is trotted out. Winning 1 or 2 games up there has no bearing on our long term ability to win there. Having better or the same quality of players than them might though. After all Steve Keane won there with Black burn one season but I doubt that means Blackburn will win every time they visit Old Trafford.

 

[Jurgen the German]

Here's hoping he can take out any or all of Hazard, Moses, or Fabregarse on the 4th Jan. Then slug one on Conte as he walks off the pitch at full time. You know our Danny would if he could get away with it.

Please let it be Fabregas. He is the worst of the lot. Sure Hazard is a cheat and Costa is an uber cheat but he isn't afraid to put his foot in. As a striker, I respect that given that defenders get away with murder, it's nice to see a forward giving it back to defenders.

Fabregas is just a whiny, snidey, snivelling little weasel who trolls people before and during the game but is too much of a pussy to actually get stuck in to any tackles. That slap on Fernandinho sums him up.

 

[Jurgen the German]

Sorry mate that's Tosh I hate it when that cheap line is trotted out. Winning 1 or 2 games up there has no bearing on our long term ability to win there. Having better or the same quality of players than them might though. After all Steve Keane won there with Black burn one season but I doubt that means Blackburn will win every time they visit Old Trafford.

I have never seen the result of ONE GAME get so much praise and adoration. There's barely a mention of Jol becoming the first Spurs manager in the PL era to beat Chelsea or Redknapp winning away at Arsenal for the first time since 1993 (that win was largely down to Arsenal resting players for the FA Cup final) or winning at Anfield for the first time in over 15 years.

EDIT: Sherwood also won at OT too but that seems to have been forgotten/ignored.

 

[parklane1]

Your problem traight away is saying they have been shyte... they have lost one home game all season which is solid form and have been suffering from draw syndrome (sound familiar)

There also far more experienced than us and off the pitch.

And they also have a manager who is far from finished from winning things, no matter how many foolish fans try to write him off.