***OMT - Tottenham Hotspur vs. Saudi Sportswashing Machine***

[glorygloryeze]

I was there today with my Son. Horrible result and there are perhaps some implications on how Conte has been managing the squad.

However, the way we played on the whole was good i felt, especially before we conceded. But the passing and control limitations of the likes of Lloris, Dier, Sanchez and Emerson was all too stark. And let's be honest Lloris was mainly to blame.

I don't feel so bad as i did when we lost to Man Utd, Arsenal or those Chelsea defeats. We (or should i say lloris) beat ourselves. If Son has his shooting boots on we are two goals up by the time of the Lloris meltdown. Son was showing some signs of getting closer to what we know...but still, ah fustrating..

It was interesting seeing Conte keep trying to gee up Lloris and Dier to keep doing what they were doing even after the second goal. He seems really to want to coach them to keep doing the pass around the back thing and wasn't publicly at least throwing them under the bus. I wonder if others watched him on the touchline more closely to see what they thought on this..

Well, i'll feel a lot better about these last few days if we simply win on Wednesday....

COYS (Please)

 

[glorygloryeze]

And it's a foul on Lloris the more I see it. For the second it's a poor kick but again naive from us as their players still have thigs to do.

The idea our players can't get out of tricky situations does not bode well for when things get really tough, no wonder we went rabbit in headlights when we faced quality in United in the week

This, we keep having moments when we shoot ourselves in the foot; we stopped and went into slow-motion mode when Lloris was (imo) fouled. I thought we had a a chance to clear when he came out and initially blocked well.

 

[Bullet]

It was interesting to see our players "free up their game" with 5 minutes to go.

Suddenly Bissouma was spinning around with drag backs and driving forwards, not playing safe.

Players were charging forwards with intent, desperate to make a difference.

A stark contrast to the rest of the game where we try to do the right thing and lay it off and play nice... a massive difference when the players TRULY wanted to score.

 

[glorygloryeze]

It was interesting to see our players "free up their game" with 5 minutes to go.

Suddenly Bissouma was spinning around with drag backs and driving forwards, not playing safe.

Players were charging forwards with intent, desperate to make a difference.

A stark contrast to the rest of the game where we try to do the right thing and lay it off and play nice... a massive difference when the players TRULY wanted to score.

Tbf, they were like that before Dier and Lloris starting doing "their thing" and the crowd atmosphere became more edgy..

 

[Benny_Lad]

Difference between Wilson on Lloris/Bamford on Gabriel?

Apparently Bamford’s was such an obvious foul it was switched with VAR.

 

[metalgear]

a dogbrick pass 40 yards from goal shouldn't lead to a goal

True but do it often enough it would.
But not completing a pass to a defender is very risky but highly expected in the modern game.

 

[metalgear]

Dier fudged up for first goal. Soon as Lloris clashed with Wilson, he froze. He should have run back to cover but was as if he was waiting for a freekick. How a professional footballer, our central centre back, is not playing to the whistle is beyond me.

Yup back to the line is the usual. He doesn't like doing anything fast much.

 

[metalgear]

We have 3 realistic chances of a trophy under Conte or any other manger imo.

Europa
FA Cup
League Cup

All of those are still in tact. Somehow Conte has to get them playing like the back end of last season but that’s looking increasingly more difficult with no Kulu.

Just a note on the system. Dropping in a 3rd CM only works if it’s an Eriksen type. Not a Bissouma type into an already defensive setup.

Depends, we have 3 CBs

 

[thfcsteff]

We have 3 realistic chances of a trophy under Conte or any other manger imo.

Europa
FA Cup
League Cup

All of those are still in tact. Somehow Conte has to get them playing like the back end of last season but that’s looking increasingly more difficult with no Kulu.

Just a note on the system. Dropping in a 3rd CM only works if it’s an Eriksen type. Not a Bissouma type into an already defensive setup.

I had this debate earlier, and agree on the broad principle but not in-game. Newcash sat us off to an extent, so I’d expect Bissouma (even though sitting deeper than he likes and not his natural position) to be faster transitioning the ball from deep to the wide areas or channels. What TV doesn’t show is how much proper intelligent movement there is wide in those moments. I get the impression Sess was hugging the line today and simply not offering the chance of an early ball; or he was afraid to go quickly knowing that Bissouma simply wasn’t moving quickly himself. Again, I see that this is not his ideal position, but when on the ball, Bissouma has to either pass quickly and progressively (even 5-7 yards) or carry 5-10 yards and then lay off, knowing that Bentancur is smart enough to cover him should he decided to try and show some personality and take the game by the scruff.

 

[thfcsteff]

Poor once the gifts were given today, and it is clear that many are riding a redline of fatigue and too many minutes in their legs and bodies. It is funny watching the same players get dug out by the same people over and over again. For me, the truth is a little more detailed than comfortable finger-pointing. A conversation for another day no doubt…

…everyone saying what we do and don’t have forgets that Conte himself said it would take three windows more to get us close to what he really wants. Today, we showed that when we are missing Kulusevski, PEH, Romero and Richarlison, we are missing a lot. So how can we get through this and keep in the top 4 until the World Cup?

1) Offer the team support and energy. Too often I see our home fan base throw their toys out of the pram when something goes wrong. The booing at HT was pathetic an embarrassment. Get behind them. This has been the worst week in many months under Conte, and we need to reverse it fast. Won’t be helped by that sort of toxic s h i t.
2) Conte needs to lead with his energy and spirit. Whether telling the prawn sandwich booing tossers in our stadium to show up, or keeping the squad we have onside and giving what they have, his ‘language’ is going to be vital. Given what we learnt about his relationship with Ventrone, I have a theory he is a bit lost right now without him around to offer counsel; if so, he needs to find a way around it fast.
3) Conte needs to gamble more at certain times in specific situations. Today, with 25 mins to go and us needing a spark, he could’ve brought on Gil. Wet pitch, player who likes to dribble and run at pace, defenders who are large and like a slide, a player who would’ve lifted the crowd and turned the energy back on, it was a gamble worth taking. We need him to understand that sometimes, at this club more than any, control has to give way to unpredictable surges of action from unlikely sources. It is against his ethos, but with the injuries we have and who is available, he needs to pay heed IMO.
4) We cannot hide on the pitch. Players need to step up and want the ball.

I think tactically, and squad-wise, we are going to be limping into November. I think attitude-wise, we can do a lot better in the stands and in the dugout. This is all against Conte’s nature and instinct of wanting to control matters. In this case, he needs to tweak the emotional volume and get a defiant ‘siege’ mentality’ going immediately. As for Wed, I’d be looking to this side (fitness allowing)

Lloris

Romero
Dier
Davies

Doherty
Bentancur
Skipp
PEH
Perisic

Kane
Son


If injuries remain what they are…

Lloris

Royal
Dier
Davies

Doherty
Bentancur
Skipp
Sess

Perisic
Kane
Son


we can switch to a 5 if needed with subs. Gamble side I know, but fortune favours the brave.

 

[DeanoAustin]

I was gonna Google Eager Beaver to see where it was amongst the fine culinary establishments of Tottenham and then I realised what you meant…

Only reasonably priced flight I could get in was at 8:20 and I’m back out at 22:50. The things we do for love knowing she’s probably going to break my heart again…

And so she does. To make matters worse Stansted was a brickshow, flight delayed 3 hours and just at the airport car park now. I hate you Tottenham because I love you.

One random minor thing I noticed on one of their corners. Maybe it’s common and I just haven’t looked out for it. On their corner, we had all 11 players in the box. Great in that it gives us numbers but we had no outball so the ball just came back at us when we cleared. Is that what we usually do?

 

[Mosquito_Coasting]

We’re entering a difficult period replacing Lloris and then Kane and Son. I have faith in Paratici though and think we have good players under 25 who will improve further.

 

[billyiddo]

And so she does. To make matters worse Stansted was a brickshow, flight delayed 3 hours and just at the airport car park now. I hate you Tottenham because I love you.

One random minor thing I noticed on one of their corners. Maybe it’s common and I just haven’t looked out for it. On their corner, we had all 11 players in the box. Great in that it gives us numbers but we had no outball so the ball just came back at us when we cleared. Is that what we usually do?

Yep

 

[Daisuk]

Yeah, the fudging booing at the stadium. Jesus, get a grip. If you're there you can directly impact the atmosphere, so play your part ffs, support the lads instead of booing them. I get embarrassed every time I hear boos at half or full time. It does not help the team one iota.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

And so she does. To make matters worse Stansted was a brickshow, flight delayed 3 hours and just at the airport car park now. I hate you Tottenham because I love you.

One random minor thing I noticed on one of their corners. Maybe it’s common and I just haven’t looked out for it. On their corner, we had all 11 players in the box. Great in that it gives us numbers but we had no outball so the ball just came back at us when we cleared. Is that what we usually do?

The corner thing is normal
I hate it
Imagine having sin up near half way. That means they need at least two players out there to deal with him if we win it

 

[Spoonman]

Yeah, the fudging booing at the stadium. Jesus, get a grip. If you're there you can directly impact the atmosphere, so play your part ffs, support the lads instead of booing them. I get embarrassed every time I hear boos at half or full time. It does not help the team one iota.

Yeah, I was there yesterday and it is fudging embarrassing. The crowd were fine after the 1st goal I think because we'd played pretty well up until that point but as soon as the second went in, the atmosphere turned toxic until half time. 2nd half I think the crowd was mostly encouraging but that 15 mins to halftime you'd have thought we were bottom of the league. Really tinkles me off.

 

[Mikey10]

To make matters worse Stansted was a brickshow, flight delayed 3 hours and just at the airport car park now. I hate you Tottenham because I love you.

I share your pain. Tree on the line between Basingstoke and Salisbury. 90 minutes standing in the pouring rain waiting for South Western Trains to organise a taxi. Driver at the end of a 12 hour shift, could barely stay awake and he kept driving along the cat’s eyes between lanes. Didn’t stop him sitting at 70 the whole way, as the taxi aquaplaned through the thunderstorms. Got in at midnight.

Genuinely terrifying, but not as frightening as watching Dier in the centre of our defence.

 

[Bishop]

We don't really have a left back either, Davies can play there, but it's not his best position.

Yeah, our best LB is out on loan. We've gone all in on the 5 at the back system so we need to keep making the additions to maximise the system. A RWB or Spence, another passer in midfield and a good CCB.

Sent from my XQ-BC72 using Fapatalk

 

[Finney Is Back]

The worst thing is that in a lot of games this season, especially these last two, and against Arsenal, we've looked 2nd best at EVERYTHING, even effort, determination, and will to win. We've looked so flat and uninterested it's scary! We've been swept away because the opposition wants it more, and put more effort in! That is shocking!!!

It’s because we are so deep. It’s difficult for us to be able go into tackles as most of our challenges are made within 20 yards of our penalty box. If the manager got the team 20 yards up the pitch then it would immediately look better.

 

[Mikey10]

Yeah, I was there yesterday and it is fudging embarrassing. The crowd were fine after the 1st goal I think because we'd played pretty well up until that point but as soon as the second went in, the atmosphere turned toxic until half time. 2nd half I think the crowd was mostly encouraging but that 15 mins to halftime you'd have thought we were bottom of the league. Really tinkles me off.

I don’t boo, but I can understand it.

It’s wrong to dismiss the booers as the ‘prawn sandwich phalanx’ (not that you did, but Steff seemed to). I was in the North Stand and there were plenty booing around me. Ordinary supporters can shell out upwards of a hundred quid on a match day now, once ticket, transport and food and drink are factored in. When they see one-dimensional football played with middling effort, along with seasoned professionals making basic (and repeated) errors, then they are well within their rights, I think, to express their opinion.