...::[The Footy Desk]::... (Part 2)

[Jason]

Big Sam was getting all sorts of stick on social media for negative tactics this game despite the fact his team are playing the best team in the country and he's been brought in to do one thing only and that's keep WBA in the league while starting from an already tricky position. They've got a long way to go but results like this are why he's never been relegated once in his managerial career.

[Laker23]

GG Baggies. Liverpool took their foot off the gas after 20 minutes and got deservedly punished for it.

 

They really, really need to buy a CB in January.

[Laker23]

If I was a Spurs fan I think the last thing I'd want is to get an early lead. Guaranteed snooze fest inevitably follows.

 

Those dropped points against Leicester don't feel so bad now.

[Lonely-Martin]

Crazy league, 2 draws and 2 loses and still top 5, lol.

[Lonely-Martin]

7 minutes ago, Laker23 said:

If I was a Spurs fan I think the last thing I'd want is to get an early lead. Guaranteed snooze fest inevitably follows.

 

If we held onto the lead, couldn't care less how it goes to be fair. We've played the pretty/flair football for so long and got nothing for it and we need to grow the steely side to us a Mourinho can add to our game.

 

Of course, when ya get caught out and drop the points, it's unfortunate. We need to get better at it but I feel we're on the right track overall. Like @Jason said above about United trying to get a Vidic or Rio type player in at United, Jose needs his Terry type to instill some real iron at the back. Dyer has done well to adapt, but we need a real leader there with Alderwierald getting too slow and Sanchez just not good enough IMO.

 

Ndombele should have stayed on though as he was playing well today and Sonny/Kane just weren't at the races at all to go get the 2nd goal.

Edited December 27, 2020 by Lonely-Martin
Was expecting a merge, apologies folks!

[Laker23]

11 hours ago, Lonely-Martin said:

 

If we held onto the lead, couldn't care less how it goes to be fair. We've played the pretty/flair football for so long and got nothing for it and we need to grow the steely side to us a Mourinho can add to our game.

 

Of course, when ya get caught out and drop the points, it's unfortunate. We need to get better at it but I feel we're on the right track overall. Like @Jason said above about United trying to get a Vidic or Rio type player in at United, Jose needs his Terry type to instill some real iron at the back. Dyer has done well to adapt, but we need a real leader there with Alderwierald getting too slow and Sanchez just not good enough IMO.

 

Ndombele should have stayed on though as he was playing well today and Sonny/Kane just weren't at the races at all to go get the 2nd goal.

If you want the results no matter the cost then fair enough. I was bored to tears most of the time he managed us, despite respecting him a lot as a manager.

 

The thing that rightly irks people about the guy, and this includes some Spurs fans too, is that the opposition is irrelevant when they go a goal up. Whether it's West Brom or Liverpool it will happen. The dropped points against both Palace and Wolves you could say were unfortunate, but at the same time you can equally say those two sides were there for the taking and six points was a very realistic target.

 

I'm curious to see how you lot perform in the next three now, Fulham, Leeds and Villa. Need to be aiming for seven points minimum. The Leeds game especially will suit Spurs, especially Son on the counter.

Edited December 28, 2020 by Laker23

[TheSantader25]

Liverpool and Spurs this season have been guilty of being content with one goal at multiple occasions this season and being punished for it with a 1-1 draw. Some of these draws have been unfair because of the referees(like Brighton 1-1 Liverpool or Spurs 1-1 Newcastle) but that's why sitting on a 1-0 lead is dumb. One stupid thing(which is not rare I might add) and you lose 2 points. 

Edited December 28, 2020 by TheSantader25

[Lonely-Martin]

Yeah, I fully agree it's risky and aside a couple of surprise results, we need to learn quickly to see out the full 95 or so minutes to make it work. I feel we're close but a key signing away from getting there fully. 

 

The Newcastle game was just bad luck as VAR was way off, and stupid things like Aurier giving daft avoidable penalties too often for premier league football never helps. Only compounds pressure and Sissoko has to cover him too much which doesn't help either. The West Ham game was weird too, we need to concentrate and not get sloppy like that as that match was the one I really disliked seeing us drop points in. But those dropped 4 points would have made the Palace/Wolves games easier to take for sure. But alas, gotta forget that and move on.

 

That's where we need to improve, Jose is right in that it shouldn't matter if it's Palace or Liverpool, we've gotta be switched on and up for it against every team like we were against the bigger teams and even relish the pressure if this way is to work properly and I feel our centre backs aren't quite there for it. But with many teams looking for that next great defender like United, Chelsea for when Thiago's time is up, or even Liverpool with their injury issues, Arsenal needing wholesale changes too, that's easier said than done of course.

 

Time for us to get our heads down and not read into headlines/league positions too much. And players like Alli need to look at Ndombele to see there's a place in the team if they step their game up, but I feel he's set to leave and play the pressure free, responsibility free, part time footie now so he can play plenty of FIFA with his new mates and party with Neymar, lol. We need that mindset completely gone from my Spurs as we've been like that for far too long. If Arteta or Ole need a couple more transfer windows to get their teams together, Jose surely needs the time too so I'm patient with it for now. This time next year I'd be much more concerned if no progress still. If we can pinch a cup this year to show some progress though, that can only help I believe.

 

But yeah, if Leeds play us like they did Man United, could be a good result (and great game for neutrals) and Fulham we should be targetting 3 points too. Villa are playing so well at times so we've gotta keep the likes of Grielish quiet which many teams have struggled to do. Aurier cannot play against him!

[TheSantader25]

Remember when Chelsea were considered a real threat this season? 

[Eutyphro]

It was about two weeks ago I think.

[Jason]

With the way this season is going they could be title challengers again in another two weeks, lol.

[Girish]

4 hours ago, Jason said:

With the way this season is going they could be title challengers again in another two weeks, lol.

haha, maybe. But it would be silly to expect others to f*ck up and not change anything. We literally don't have a Plan B.

 

Also, for all this talk about Lamps favoring English players, I have no idea why Christensen starts ahead of Tomori.

[Laker23]

Sucks the Everton and City game was called off, but understandable. Hopefully it doesn't snowball further, because the schedule is already ridiculously packed as it is.

[Jason]

Well if we have a bogey team then Wolves are it, so I'll take that 3 points every day of the week thank you very much.

 

Also it'll be interesting to see what January brings in terms of transfers, I'm not so sure teams have suddenly found a load of money but it's clear some teams need to spend next month.

[Lonely-Martin]

13 minutes ago, Jason said:

Also it'll be interesting to see what January brings in terms of transfers, I'm not so sure teams have suddenly found a load of money but it's clear some teams need to spend next month.

 

Makes me wonder really regarding the money.

 

Could the financial fair play thing be a hurdle, I know my Spurs spent a few bob in summer but with no revenue from crowds and much uncertainty still, messy. Don't wanna see teams penalised but wouldn't surprise me if that's a concern for some. And with how messed up the UK is and travel bans etc, would players even want/be allowed to come over this coming window. 

 

Damn virus needs to piss off!

[Jason]

Yea it's gonna be a tricky window, the UK's situation especially with this new covid variant that's spreading is a good point too. Might be difficult to get these people in the country nevermind signed for a club.

[TheSantader25]

Seems like we're heading for 2020: Part II instead of 2021. Spurs - Fulham game canceled as well.  

[Lonely-Martin]

Yep!

 

We're in a bad way in the south/south east here too. It'll get worse before better again for sure.

 

Can't help but agree with big Sam that we may need a break and with both the euros and nations league this summer, sh*t's gonna get messy

[Jason]

48 minutes ago, Lonely-Martin said:

Can't help but agree with big Sam that we may need a break and with both the euros and nations league this summer, sh*t's gonna get messy

 

Given Big Sam's reasoning for wanting the break... the only reason he wants it is to give his players two weeks rest and for him to get some more training in.

 

I don't think a break is going to fix much tbh, but managers are going to fight for it if they lose a few players to it, or if their team needs a rest.

[Lonely-Martin]

38 minutes ago, Jason said:

 

Given Big Sam's reasoning for wanting the break... the only reason he wants it is to give his players two weeks rest and for him to get some more training in.

 

I don't think a break is going to fix much tbh, but managers are going to fight for it if they lose a few players to it, or if their team needs a rest.

 

Oh, I do agree there. Much like how Ole 'don't see any benefit' given his team is on a roll, lol. Form will always be a factor in a decision like this for sure, but it's far better to be safe with this sh*tty virus. (That said, as I'm deemed high risk and living in an area that's a real hotzone and declaring emergency, I can accept my view is maybe more full of dread than others' lol).

 

Believe me, I don't want it to stop. I need my footie. But if it needs to happen, it's gotta happen soon to get ahead of things as best as otherwise we'll see so many fixtures called off and the league become a bit of a joke with congestion etc.

[Eutyphro]

OH BOYS UNITED IS GONNA WIN THE LEAGUE I JUST FEEL IT IN MY GUT

[TheSantader25]

2 weeks later... 

 

Villa's gonna win the league. 

[Eutyphro]

Which is why this season is actually good to watch.

[Jason]

Meanwhile, Cavani's been banned for three games for literally nothing.

 

No, really, the FA confirmed he did nothing wrong but banned him anyway. He's literally been banned for nothing.

[Eutyphro]

Concerning Pogba, when Raiola starts going to the media to talk about how much a player wants to leave you can be sure that the player has a strong desire to stay and do whatever to work towards the best possible contract.

[Jason]

Credit where it's due, Pogba's form has been great recently, no signs at all of a player who wants to leave. I still expect that he will leave but he's earned his spot in the starting eleven right now.

 

Don't expect us to have the depth or consistency to really see out a title win just yet, but to see us challenging after 16 games is a good sign of progress - albeit in this unusual season.

[Laker23]

Fantastic game to watch. Grealish is phenomenal and could literally get 3 assists per game if Watkins knew how to finish.

 

Will certainly enjoy being joint top for the next few days before it vanishes. I felt getting into the top four would be difficult this season, and I still feel that way, so hopefully we can maintain this consistency.

Edited January 1, 2021 by Laker23

[Eutyphro]

They can play with Pogba, because Bruno has adapted to play on the left more, and Rashford the right, which creates space for Pogba as a 10. This is a good formation, but the main downside is that it might not get the most out of Rashford. United really has good options though and they can rotate in how they play, so it's all good. Dan James is useful from the right to widen the play as well I think.

Edited January 1, 2021 by Eutyphro

[Jason]

Bruno's position hasn't changed one bit since the day he joined, Pogba played on the left side of what appeared to be a midfield three but he almost played as a half winger at times, somewhat similar to Di Maria's role under Ancelotti at Madrid.

 

I doubt we'll play that formation much as it means two holding midfielders + Pogba and a lack of width in less open games, and we've also not had great success with the diamond this season. 4231 with Bruno in 10 and Cavani up top was becoming our settled formation but Cavani is suspended for three (now two) games, I expect we'll go back to that in most games with Pogba alongside Fred or Matic in games we expect to dominate.

[Lonely-Martin]

With Liverpool surprisingly dropping more points, this season really is so entertaining to watch. So many teams are attacking well at times but equally capable of dropping points, having things so open is great entertainment.

 

That Villa/United game was just one in a long list of games delivering so far this season. Hope it remains.