***Official Match Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Saudi Sportswashing Machine 8:15pm Tuesday 2nd Dec. ***

[thfcsteff]

I can't see it happening, we have the players I just don't understand why you wouldn't utilise them unless your whole philosophy is this basic brick we're seeing every game.
The Xavi situation is breaking my heart, this super talented kid has come here and basically appears surplus to requirement with Frank.
He's constantly dropping into pockets around the box and screaming for the ball and not getting it.
I really feel for him.

I agree wholeheartedly. I think there's a bit of hiding behind the 'he needs more time to adjust' rhetoric personally. And it isn't like between Xavi, Tel, Muani and even Odobert we don't have players who can not just form connections with him, but literally know and have played with him elsewhere thus have a relationship. Still, as the wise @afsoc4life said earlier, I think I'll continue to read the room and say bravo for the point, enjoy that performance from our warrior skipper, and move onwards!

 

[mudshark]

I just think we need to own and use the middle of the park more. We need an old-fashioned midfield general in the side: a Mickey Hazard type character. We haven't had that for fuсking ages. Bentancur might be supposed to be that player, but he just isn't.

 

[thfcsteff]

I just think we need to own and use the middle of the park more. We need an old-fashioned midfield general in the side: a Mickey Hazard type character. We haven't had that for fuсking ages. Bentancur might be supposed to be that player, but he just isn't.

I mean, for me, that's what this club has always stood for!!! Hoddle, Hazard, Ardiles, Gazza, Modric, Dembele, Davids, Carrick, the list goes on and on...I see Bergvall, and at 19 I see a player who can age to 24 in football maturity in months if we build with him as a key member. Archie Gray, another talent of immensity. I see Xavi as a player who can be that AM pocket-drifting creator too...

 

[SpurMeUp]

OK. I think it is. We disagree.
Richarlison has played most minutes this season, ditto Kudus. The left has been a little less fixed. Two out of three. Yet our main way of getting the ball to them is to ply long balls requiring them to win Ariel duals or second balls, or to horseshoe it wide and look for crosses. It isn't even a criticism necessarily, it's a clear factual observation.

Another clear factual observation is Richarlison hasn’t started the last 3 games! So to say he’s a settle player in attack is currently wide of mark - like his finishing

So 1 out of 3.

Thwn Bergvall has just started in his attacking role since PSG. He’s both brilliant and at times terrible. He wouldn’t beating games for the top clubs would he? Love him but fans have to have patience when we’re playing these unpolished unsettled youth players.

We do not look to play the ball to feet too often in the last third of the pitch, and we certainly don't ever look to make a slide rule pass in behind for a runner simply because the fear is that losing the ball in such an area can be dangerous. Which it can. But it then becomes the whole 'risk/reward' thing...anyway...

I think it’s more that we aren’t able to break quickly yet. So by the time we get to the final third all teams have men back. So it’s congested and we have to go wide and look for a cross.

But to say we don’t play balls through the lines is wrong. We aspire to be more than you give us credit. I think it is mostly down us being a new inexperienced side.

 

[mudshark]

I mean, for me, that's what this club has always stood for!!! Hoddle, Hazard, Ardiles, Gazza, Modric, Dembele, Davids, Carrick, the list goes on and on...I see Bergvall, and at 19 I see a player who can age to 24 in football maturity in months if we build with him as a key member. Archie Gray, another talent of immensity. I see Xavi as a player who can be that AM pocket-drifting creator too...

Fingers crossed.

 

[RunTMC]

That penalty decision looks worse and worse every time I see it