Tottenham 2015-16: We don't even have a clever title

Gunfighter 09 · Jan 29, 2016

Looks like they are going with what they have to replace Vertongen and CCV will get the shot if needed.

Vertonghen's absence has had many Spurs fans wondering if the club will make any last-minute moves to help shore up the defense in his absence. Not so, says Spurs' manager Mauricio Pochettino. Poche made statements to the media suggesting that not only will Spurs not panic-buy a defender while Vertonghen recovers, but that they will promote teenage English-American defender Cameron Carter-Vickers should the need arise.

"We have a lot of players in defensive positions that can play. We have another youngster from the academy, Cameron Carter-Vickers.

"He’s young but he has enough quality and he’s been training with us from the beginning of the season and playing with the Under-21s.

"I think it’s a good opportunity [for him] to stay with us now more consistently. I don’t expect to [sign a player to] cover Jan Vertonghen, I think we have enough players to cover his injury."

http://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/tottenham-hotspur-transfers-rumors/2016/1/29/10868516/tottenham-hotspur-news-vertonghen-injury-cameron-carter-vickers

coremiller · Jan 29, 2016

I wouldn't put too much stock into that, it could just be posturing for negotiations. Spurs may get a better price if they can convince sellers they don't absolutely need to buy and they're prepared to go with what they have.

Doesn't mean the report is wrong, either, We'll see.

Tangled Up In Red · Jan 29, 2016

Selling Fazio (please) would tell me they're comfortable with CCV in reserve.

Zomp · Jan 30, 2016

There's only 2 Mousa Dembele's. Two moussssaaaaa Dembele'ssssss..

coremiller · Jan 30, 2016

I would have liked to see more rotation today, esp up front. If they don't have a backup striker that can score against Colchester, that's a big problem.

Mugsy's Jock · Jan 31, 2016

Zomp said:
There's only 2 Mousa Dembele's. Two moussssaaaaa Dembele'ssssss..

And... now there's only one. Still have Mousa Dembele, but the acquisition of Moussa Dembele has been scotched as Fulham wanted to have him remain there through the end of the season. That would also carry him through the end of the contract, so it's not clear what Spurs would've gotten for their 6 million.

Spurs may turn their attention back to Saido Berahino as support for Kane, though that deal has been brewing for so long it's hard to believe it'll actually happen. Me, I'm pretty confident Son could stand more run up front.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jan/31/fulham-call-off-moussa-dembeles-6m-move-to-tottenham-over-loan-back

Gunfighter 09 · Feb 2, 2016

That was a fun win today. Wimmer seemed capable enough and Kane is certainly back in top form. I am liking the way getting Chadli back has allowed them to rotate him, Son and Lamela. It is weird how aesthetically pleasing the table is after today's matches.

coremiller · Feb 2, 2016

I wonder if Alli could play as an out-and-out striker in a pinch. He's a little small for it, but he's got the pace and finishing ability and he seems to know how to time his runs well.

Mugsy's Jock · Feb 5, 2016

Hey, they throw a football better than I do...

coremiller · Feb 6, 2016

It's much better being on the other side of the Huerelho Gomes experience.

RSN Diaspora · Feb 6, 2016

coremiller said:
It's much better being on the other side of the Huerelho Gomes experience.

Sure, though I'm beginning to wonder whether all these missed chances on Gomes will prove to be one big wasted opportunity today. Lamela seems content to keep kicking soft shots right at Gomes, while Kane blew a huge chance.

RSN Diaspora · Feb 6, 2016

^ Shut up asshole.

EDIT: God, Dele Alli is such a beast, even when he's too sick to start.

RSN Diaspora · Feb 6, 2016

There it is. A few too many heart-stoppers toward the end, but hello second place.

Gunfighter 09 · Feb 6, 2016

Still wondering how Kane didn't earn either of two penalties.

Other than missing an easy goal, I thought Wimmer looked just fine today. I'm pretty excited for Man City next week.

Tangled Up In Red · Feb 6, 2016

All 11 (14) players played well today. Deserved more than 1-0.
Second place, 5 points off first!

Mugsy's Jock · Feb 6, 2016

Even without the goal, I liked the cut of Trippier's jib. Very aggressive and nice control in the offensive half.

fletcherpost · Feb 9, 2016

I think this is the year Spurs say no to the Europa League, hello Champions League..but they could win the whole thing...which will make Uri Happy, which will make me happy.

Mugsy's Jock · Feb 14, 2016

Anyone else headed to Flannery's in NYC this morning?

Gunfighter 09 · Feb 14, 2016

This is not the much depleted City line up I was promised all week.

Manchester City FCVerified account‏@MCFC
City XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (C), Otamendi, Clichy, Fernandinho, Fernando, Toure, Sterling, Silva, Aguero #cityvspurs #mcfc

Of course, I really like the Spurs line up, especially Chadli on the bench.

Tottenham Hotspur ‏@SpursOfficial 6m6 minutes ago
#THFC team: Lloris (c), Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose; Dembele, Dier; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Kane #COYS

coremiller · Feb 14, 2016

Both sides are packing the center, making the game a little scrappy and disjointed. Space is all on the wings through the fullbacks.

coremiller · Feb 14, 2016

Spurs have been conservative and not very good with the ball, a lot of wayward passes, a lot of backward passes.

coremiller · Feb 14, 2016

They miss Vertonghen as much in possession as without it -- Wimmer is just not confident passing forward.

coremiller · Feb 14, 2016

A tense, rather boring half. No clear cut chances either way. Spurs have 65% possession but haven't done much with it, lots of passes among the back five. Danny Rose has probably been Spurs' biggest attacking threat, he's getting into good positions but hasn't delivered a great final ball. Kane has been bottled up.

All of City's good attacking play is coming down their left, their game plan is clearly to attack Walker. But Walker has held up and Aldeweireld and Dier are doing a good job covering when City overloads that side.

I do think Spurs are fitter than City, and that will be an advantage as the game gets into its late stages, esp with City having to chase the ball so much (something they are not used to, it's pretty rare they are on the wrong side for 65-35 possession).

teddykgb · Feb 14, 2016

What a crap call. Hits him in the back and a penalty is called.

McBride11 · Feb 14, 2016

Weak weak call against Sterling gifts Spurs a goal. City looks fired up afterwards though.

coremiller · Feb 14, 2016

It was soft, for sure.

The change since the goal shows how negative City's initial game plan was. Very odd of them to play for 0-0 at home like that.

teddykgb · Feb 14, 2016

It wasn't soft. It was outright wrong. There is a difference. City started the only available XI they had available. Ihenacho is just a kid and the rest of the bench are youth.

coremiller · Feb 14, 2016

It's not just playing two holding mids. City's fullbacks played very conservatively in the first 50 minutes, staying deep and narrow and not supporting the attack.

coremiller · Feb 14, 2016

And now City score off a move from an overlapping fullback, exactly the sort of move they weren't trying in the first half.

coremiller · Feb 14, 2016

Eriksen!!!

DennyDoyle'sBoil · Feb 14, 2016

The North London derby in a couple of weeks is going to be something.

teddykgb · Feb 14, 2016

I'm too infuriated and pissed off to type many logical things but fair play to your manager for seeing the Kolarov sub and immediately countering with Lamela. Aguero wasn't offside but the quick counter was there and the manager made the right sub. He's very good.

Mugsy's Jock · Feb 14, 2016

Just back from Flannery's, official Spurs bar in New York -- what a thrilling game. The first goal appeared a gift from most angles, but there was one angle that appeared to show the ball deflecting off the back of Stirling's shoulder into his elbow. They show that just a couple of times, but it made what I thought was a terrible call initially look at least plausible in retrospect.

Game balls to Pochettino (every move worked, but especially Lamela), Lloris (a couple of very brave stops, especially toward the end), and Dembele (Spurs were far more organized in midfield than City), and Toure never got rolling. Alderweireld also solid as a rock until the last 5 minutes or so.

I am a little concerned that Dier faces a two-game suspension now for having received his 10th yellow, but I suppose that was going to happen sooner or later. COYS!

Gunfighter 09 · Feb 14, 2016

That goal was something else.

The penalty was nonsense, and Man City played really well, but Spurs looked good against one of the top three teams in the league and were deservedly lucky.

One thing that struck me as unusual was the way Alli and Lamela were pressuring the ball up top defensively rather than Kane, though Kane remained the furtherest guy forward offensively. It almost seemed like Poch was trying to save some of Kane's energy for the attack.

coremiller · Feb 14, 2016

Mugsy's Jock said:
Just back from Flannery's, official Spurs bar in New York -- what a thrilling game. The first goal appeared a gift from most angles, but there was one angle that appeared to show the ball deflecting off the back of Stirling's shoulder into his elbow. They show that just a couple of times, but it made what I thought was a terrible call initially look at least plausible in retrospect.

Game balls to Pochettino (every move worked, but especially Lamela), Lloris (a couple of very brave stops, especially toward the end), and Dembele (Spurs were far more organized in midfield than City), and Toure never got rolling. Alderweireld also solid as a rock until the last 5 minutes or so.

I am a little concerned that Dier faces a two-game suspension now for having received his 10th yellow, but I suppose that was going to happen sooner or later. COYS!

Where are you seeing that Dier is on 10 yellows? As far as I can tell he's only on 8 after today. Which is a big deal b/c a two-match suspension would rule him out for the NLD.

Mugsy's Jock · Feb 14, 2016

coremiller said:
Where are you seeing that Dier is on 10 yellows? As far as I can tell he's only on 8 after today. Which is a big deal b/c a two-match suspension would rule him out for the NLD.

Sorry -- heard that in the bar. Guess they were counting some yellows from one of the cups?

coremiller · Feb 15, 2016

DrewDawg said:
Aren't the next 2 EPL games Swansea on 2/28 and West Ham on 3/2? Arsenal is on 3/5.

Almost rather him serve now, or he's going to have to just be careful the next 2.

You're right, I forgot about the midweek West Ham game.

Gunfighter 09 · Feb 16, 2016

I am conflicted about the Fiorentina Europa league match up. I want them out of Europa as soon as possible to concentrate on the league first and FA cup second, especially with the team 10 points clear of 5th place with 12 matches to go. But Spurs really need England to have 4 spots in the UCL, and this is the only England v. Italy direct competition this round, so getting victories and eliminating an Italian team is very critical. Here's hoping for a Josh Onomah goal or two leading them to victory.

Jimy Hendrix · Feb 16, 2016

I agree from a fatigue/game theory perspective, but I worry that you can't teach a young team to gut out a European campaign by punting one. I'm skeptical of the idea that any team could blow off Europa to make the CL and then turn it on to be the kind of team that can make a deep European run once they get to the preferred competition, and I'm even more skeptical that it'd work for a team that's so young.

I've also got the romantic side that says "goddammit, the club's motto isn't 'To calculate rationally is to do'. If you're in three competitions, gun for all of them" even as my more sensible side thinks about how much energy that press takes to implement and how thin the squad is up top.

Morgan's Magic Snowplow · Feb 16, 2016

I wouldn't blame Pochettino at all for prioritizing the league, given the opportunity Spurs have there, but punting altogether on a European knockout competition would be awful and reflect a really small-time attitude. I can understand him resting Kane and maybe 1-2 other key regulars but he will deserve a lot of criticism if he plays a reserve side IMO. The Europa League is still a prestigious tournament featuring many great clubs around Europe and Spurs should give themselves a chance to win it.

coremiller · Feb 16, 2016

The only real benefit to the Europa league is CL qualification, but with Spurs 10 points ahead of 5th-placed Man Utd with 12 games to go, it would take a real collapse for them to lose out on qualifying through the league. Going for the league title has to be the priority.

On the other hand, the fixtures surrounding the Fiorentina ties are a home cup match against Palace and a home league match against Swansea. Both allow opportunities for rotation. I'd like to see Poch use his bench well across the next four matches. He can rotate some against Fiorentina without fielding a really weak team.

Morgan's Magic Snowplow · Feb 16, 2016

coremiller said:
The only real benefit to the Europa league is CL qualification, but with Spurs 10 points ahead of 5th-placed Man Utd with 12 games to go, it would take a real collapse for them to lose out on qualifying through the league. Going for the league title has to be the priority.

On the other hand, the fixtures surrounding the Fiorentina ties are a home cup match against Palace and a home league match against Swansea. Both allow opportunities for rotation. I'd like to see Poch use his bench well across the next four matches. He can rotate some against Fiorentina without fielding a really weak team.

I agree with your overall point - rotate some, but don't field a weak team - but lets not act like the only value to winning the Europa League is qualifying for the Champions League.

Sure, fans would much rather win the Premier League if they had to choose but the Europa League itself is a prestigious competition. Fans of the biggest clubs in the world might dismiss the Europa League but it remains a top competition - I'd much rather win the Europa League than the FA Cup, for example - and that would be a fantastic piece of silverware for a club like Spurs to win.

Tangled Up In Red · Feb 18, 2016

Ryan Mason with the captain's armband. A little surprising.

Team: Vorm; Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Davies; Carroll, Mason ©; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Chadli.
Subs McGee, Rose, Walker, Dembele, Dier, Onomah, Kane

Imagine the front four will be interchangeable. Hope Carroll and Mason can manage the midfield, that seems to be our weak spot.

Tottenham 2015-16: We don't even have a clever title

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