****TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs west sham united************

[Spurs7891]

Eriksen reacted if the goal would have counted if it went in.

So were all the players in the defensive wall, including Dier. The way they are looking at the ball going past them is funny.

 

[Lost Mango]

Gullit is a fool. My mate used to be his ghostwriter. He's pretty harmless, but needed to be told his opinions.

I wish MOTD would just give up on thick ex-pros and give a broadsheet journalist a seat on the show, so we can have some proper analysis. Tim Vickery almost made it into the studio during the WC, so perhaps we are not a million miles away.

In what world are journalists "experts" any more than anyone on here? They mainly haven't played the game to any level and most of them probably watch less matches than you or Murmon.

 

[diego_maradona]

Gullit is a fool. My mate used to be his ghostwriter. He's pretty harmless, but needed to be told his opinions.

I wish MOTD would just give up on thick ex-pros and give a broadsheet journalist a seat on the show, so we can have some proper analysis. Tim Vickery almost made it into the studio during the WC, so perhaps we are not a million miles away.

Gullit was on of the best players that ever played the game. played under some of the best coaches that's ever worked in the game including Saachi and Rinus Michels. He was always outspoken, but I'd easily respect his opinion more than your ghostwriter mate tbh

 

[milo]

Gullit is a fool. My mate used to be his ghostwriter. He's pretty harmless, but needed to be told his opinions.

I wish MOTD would just give up on thick ex-pros and give a broadsheet journalist a seat on the show, so we can have some proper analysis. Tim Vickery almost made it into the studio during the WC, so perhaps we are not a million miles away.

I don't remember you saying that Gullit was a fool when you were convinced that FdB was joining us based on comments by Gullit.

 

[the dza]

So are all these ex-pros dumbing down their knowledge for the masses, or is football a game that is communicated in very simple terms?

Somewhere in the middle I think, but that's just a guess.

There's a couple of people on here who reckon they have done this or that, played to a certain level or whatever. Enlighten us then, where is Ruud going wrong and, if you can, provide a detailed alternative to his analysis.

And no cop-out bullsh1t like "Oh, I have played to X-Level and I CAN TELL YOU, it's FAR more complicated than you plebs could ever imagine." Actually explain, give details.

 

[braineclipse]

Excellent result, fantastic way to win a game, great to have the PL back!

Agree with those saying that we weren't very impressive. Even 11 vs 11 we struggled to dominate and create chances, perhaps unsurprisingly so. There were signs of what I think Poch is trying to do when we have the ball, we tried to be a bit more forward oriented in our passing and we were willing to accept quite a bit of risk playing it out from the back. Less so in our pressing, but that's more because of how easily West Ham are forced into playing it long - doesn't make any sense to press high with many players when they're just going to punt it if we press with two.

Lovely from Dier, so composed. Looked very composed throughout too, as he did against Schalke. Looks a real player! Lovely through ball from Kane too.

No one particularly impressed I thought. Perhaps Hugo, arguably Townsend right after coming on. Capoue and Bentaleb were tidy I suppose (but I expect a lot more), I thought Rose did alright, as did Eriksen and Lamela.

Ade the worst performer imo, squawka has him winning one out of five aerial duels (http://epl.squawka.com/west-ham-united-vs-tottenham-hotspur/16-08-2014/english-barclays-premier-league/matches), that's bad enough, but even worse is that there were a lot he didn't even challenge for. No shame in losing a header, but essentially losing all of them without putting up a fight is just not good enough. I would start Kane ahead of him against QPR personally, and unless he turns around very quickly and starts performing I would like to see some Baldini magic.

 

[braineclipse]

Oh, and the red card was ****ing ridiculous. Classic Foy in that in reveals a lack of a basic understanding of the game.

Edit: Second oh. Big positive that Kaboul looks fairly fit again. Last season when he did make appearances he seemed to be walking on eggshells trying not to break down again. Yesterday, like in the pre-season games, he looked confident in his body for the first competitive game in just about forever. Yes he lost out to Carlton Cole more often than he beat him, but it's Carlton Cole - that's what he does. Kaboul consistently put his body on the line and if he can get a month playing consistently I think he might be on his way back to his best.

 

[kanoute16]

I thought we looked poor in the first half, very little tempo in our play and vulnerable in defence. The midfield found if difficult against their physicality and the harsh sending off didn't help us. In saying that wet spam huffed and puffed but I only recall one occasion when they got behind us and Lloris was called in to make a great save.

2nd half was different, holtby's pressing and tireless running gave them problems as did Townsends running who looked head and shoulders above Lennon. I the end we did something that wet spam didn't, got behind them and put the ball in the back of the net. Suck on that fat Sam you ****!

Thought gullits comments were harsh on Eriksen and Lamela but he is right, both can do better IMO.

 

[markysimmo]

Love being told how over the top im going after us beating the pikeys in their cup final yesterday, it cracks me up, they could get relegated but would celebrate a victory over us like it was a trophy, sad sad people

 

[milo]

So are all these ex-pros dumbing down their knowledge for the masses, or is football a game that is communicated in very simple terms?

Somewhere in the middle I think, but that's just a guess.

There's a couple of people on here who reckon they have done this or that, played to a certain level or whatever. Enlighten us then, where is Ruud going wrong and, if you can, provide a detailed alternative to his analysis.

And no cop-out bullsh1t like "Oh, I have played to X-Level and I CAN TELL YOU, it's FAR more complicated than you plebs could ever imagine." Actually explain, give details.

Match of the Day is a light entertainment programme aimed at a general audience. They do not have the time for detailed analysis and it would probably be off putting to their core audience.

 

[El Guepardo]

I think that our victory over West Ham will also quicken the departure of Allardyce from the club. I wouldn't be shocked if Allardyce was gone by the end of the month, especially if Pulis is available.

 

[diego_maradona]

I think that our victory over West Ham will also quicken the departure of Allardyce from the club. I wouldn't be shocked if Allardyce was gone by the end of the month, especially if Pulis is available.

That's actually a very decent shout. Pulis would be great for them

 

[Jordinho]

That's actually a very decent shout. Pulis would be great for them

They'll be getting rid of Fatty because of the style of football and transfer dealings (overpaying for mediocrity). Why on earth would they want to bring in Pulis? There's barely room for the egos of the two Daves

 

[superfaisty]

Just watching the sky highlights (so far only first half) and a few things jump out.

1) Their players had so much space and time on the ball. We need to work on pressing the oppo much better. This was what Southampton did well last year. We just didn't do it. Also our starting positions were too far from this players, it didn't look like the players knew which players they should have been picking up, hence us looking defensively all over the place.
Best example of the not pressing- rose on downing. Rose consistently stood yards off him allowing him time to cut inside onto his left foot and pick out a cross time and again. Whatever you think of downing he can deffo cross a ball well if given time and space. Rose had to improve this aspect or risk losing his place to Davies.
Holtby and Townsend provided some much needed energy and our pressing improved when hey came on.

2) we still lack a deep lying play maker , someone to make us tick. Capoue and Benty are ok in mid but even before naughts sending off neither was dictating the tempo of the game, and wre often getting bypassed by their midfield. We desperately needed someone to put their foot on the ball and pull some strings for us. I don't see this improving unless schneidrlin can play this if we can persuade soton to part with him.

3) ADE was very ordinary up front first half , nothing was sticking for him. Better in the second half but raises a question for me whether poch should be starting for me. Kane is not at the same level but showed glimpses of what he can offer in a short cameo. ADE had better up his game or he'll be bench warming a lot.

4) Lennon Lamela Eriksen were pretty non existent 11 v 11. All three need to do more but they need better service as well. Lennon in the left doesn't work but he did provide some much needed cover for Rose, more so than Eriksen or Lamela were playing from ther. Going down to 10 men changed things a lot so can't judge too harshly but there's a lot more work to be done here. Might have been better had Soldado been up top like in preseason.

5) definite pen but red card was harsh IMO but it looked like a goal scoring opportunity was denied - if I'm honest I would not be surprised if this was not overturned. That said dirt proved second half to be a good replacement so not a major loss.

Just my thoughts on first half will watch second and see what else jumps out !

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

That's actually a very decent shout. Pulis would be great for them

That's exactly why I wanted to bet on first prem manager sacked, I reckon he's in serious trouble there, especially if they don't pick up to many wins early.

 

[Shelfie]

Hugo definitely impressed, he was absolutely outstanding. A superb display of goalkeeping, by almost certainly the best keeper in the country. A 10 out of 10 performance.

Re Gullitt, he made some good points, but I disagree re the red card, ridiculous decision by the ref, who seemingly didn't see the incident. So just as with Rose last year, we had a player sent off by a lino, and we all know how that turned out. Overturned, by a doubtless embarrassed FA, over a shocking decision.

This decision wasn't so shocking, but wrong nevertheless. I hope we appeal.

Back to Gullit's comments, our mid was all over the place, and not in a good way, in the first half. He was right to highlight two of our chief culprits, Lamela and Eriksen. I can say without doubt that if Jenas, for example, had put in such a shoddy performance as those two did in the first half, he'd have been hung drawn and slaughtered by Spurs fans at the ground and in cyberland. If time had permitted Gullit could have higlighted about half the team including Kaboul and Lennon, but MOTD hasn't got a three hour slot

Poch must surely take some of the blame too. The abuse AVB and Sherwood would have got, boggles my mind more than somewhat

But the great thing was, we won. That's all I really care about. Just hope we pick a different team and set up v QPR.

 

[Gutter Boy]

In what world are journalists "experts" any more than anyone on here? They mainly haven't played the game to any level and most of them probably watch less matches than you or Murmon.

You get professional critics in most walks of life. It's a career in itself, not something to do in your retirement. They are educated to scrutinise, analyse and communicate.

Food critics aren't ex-chefs. Film critics aren't ex-actors. When NME was good it was written by people like Paul Morley, not Sting.

If you ever listen to the Guardian Football podcast, the people on that can elucidate on football far better than any ex-pros. That's what would be great - a bit of Guardian Football podcast on MOTD instead of incomprehensible cliché-rattling idiots.

 

[greatwhitenorf]

Bentaleb to Kane to Dier - goal. Bet no one would have forecast that.

Each player moving well to receive the ball. Good reading and positioning, lovely, crisp, decisive passes delivered exactly where they needed to be.

Cool heads on young players at a critical moment bringing us the win. Lot to like there.

 

[Jordinho]

 

[ledleysswollenknee]

You get professional critics in most walks of life. It's a career in itself, not something to do in your retirement. They are educated to scrutinise, analyse and communicate.

Food critics aren't ex-chefs. Film critics aren't ex-actors. When NME was good it was written by people like Paul Morley, not Sting.

If you ever listen to the Guardian Football podcast, the people on that can elucidate on football far better than any ex-pros. That's what would be great - a bit of Guardian Football podcast on MOTD instead of incomprehensible cliché-rattling idiots.

I agree with all of that. Well said.