Didn't look out of place at all (albeit against a weak side) physically or skillfully.Dane Scarlett became the youngest ever Spurs player today.
[/quote]If there is a team that should be ruing a lack of adventure during Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge, it is not Tottenham. As the away side against a big rival, and with the untested Joe Rodon making his full debut in the heart of their defence, this was a valuable point for Spurs.
Mourinho opened the season with the team playing expansively but it appears he has changed emphasis since the West Ham collapse. Spurs scored 15 and conceded 8 in the first five games, with no clean sheets; in the last fives games they have scored 6 and conceded 1, with four clean sheets.
He’s a reactive coach, who eschews an emphasis upon “a defined style of play” and instead works backwards from the opposition, particularly against strong sides.
It’s an approach sometimes criticised for being too negative, too defensive. But in two games against two title rivals, Manchester City and Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur have collected two clean sheets and four points. In fact, it’s three clean sheets in a row for Spurs — a longer run than any other side has achieved in the Premier League this season
Spurs were largely unambitious, certainly, but the onus was surely on Chelsea, as the home side and with a richly-assembled squad, to try and take the initiative.
Hard to stay motivated and focused 100% of the time. This is a quintessential trap game sandwiched between the hugely important Chelsky fixture and NLD. Also a nice silver lining that Arse have to play today as well.Interesting lineup today--no Vinicius (in fact neither he nor Kane traveled), Son starting up top, Ndombele, PEH, and Lo Celso starting in midfield.
A draw sees them through, but playing rather blah right now.
Absolutely. You do get the feeling if the Spurs pot one then they'll be off and running.Hard to stay motivated and focused 100% of the time. This is a quintessential trap game sandwiched between the hugely important Chelsky fixture and NLD. Also a nice silver lining that Arse have to play today as well.
Aurier is definitely playing much better, but the tactics are also helping him out much more. He's getting a lot of support from the defensive midfielders, so he's not on an island defensively anymore and doesn't need to make as many risky challenges. And he's no longer responsible for nearly as much ball progression and attacking creativity. Spurs had used Trippier in that role (which suited Trippier's abilities) and when Trippier left they just plugged Aurier in and hoped for more of the same, which was a disaster. Remember all those games last year where Spurs' attack was hitting long balls to Aurier in space and hoping Aurier could put in a decent cross? That's all gone now.Obviously Kane, Son and Hojbjerg were great, but that was probably the best game Serge Aurier has played for Tottenham. He made a pivotal play to launch the counter for the first goal and consistently won his battles in the second half when he had a lot to do.
Bergwijn didn't do anything spectacular but showed a lot of skill in the defensive half winning balls and getting himself out of danger, big effort from him today.
Obviously Kane, Son and Hojbjerg were great, but that was probably the best game Serge Aurier has played for Tottenham. He made a pivotal play to launch the counter for the first goal and consistently won his battles in the second half when he had a lot to do.
Bergwijn didn't do anything spectacular but showed a lot of skill in the defensive half winning balls and getting himself out of danger, big effort from him today.
North London is White!! Brilliant match yesterday. Took care of an overmatched opponent. Not even upset that the second half was a bit of a snooze.Aurier is definitely playing much better, but the tactics are also helping him out much more. He's getting a lot of support from the defensive midfielders, so he's not on an island defensively anymore and doesn't need to make as many risky challenges. And he's no longer responsible for nearly as much ball progression and attacking creativity. Spurs had used Trippier in that role (which suited Trippier's abilities) and when Trippier left they just plugged Aurier in and hoped for more of the same, which was a disaster. Remember all those games last year where Spurs' attack was hitting long balls to Aurier in space and hoping Aurier could put in a decent cross? That's all gone now.
I mostly agree with this. However, with all the great attacking tools and Mourinho's setup, a hardworking MF who can let everyone else do their thing is valuable. He protects Serge, he covers for Reguilon when he gets forward--he covers all the spaces that Hoj can't cover himself, he pitches in to help the CBs in the middle, allows GLC to play more forward, helps Bergy on the wing, etc. Many Barca fans were critical of Rakitic over the years, and while Rak fell off a cliff since the WC Final, from 2014-2018 he was the glue guy that let everyone else flourish. Sissoko's not as good as Rak in his prime, but Spurs aren't looking at a 5 or 3-year window--more like 1 or 2 if we're lucky. Moreover, he's still good at hold up play which can help relieve pressure, and if Spurs get into a MF dogfight with any team (looking at you Liverpool) I could see his skillset being more useful. Moreover, even if his hardwork just eases the load on Hoj for an hour or so, bringing on fresh legs to adapt to the game script in the final 15-30 is always a nice option to have.I have very conflicted feelings about Sissoko. He reads the game very well, he covers ground, he works hard, his positioning is good. But he's so limited on the ball that it really hinders the team's ability to hold possession and build up attacks when they're not hitting the direct counters. Nobody wants to pass him the ball, and when he gets the ball he never does anything with it, always a sideways or backwards pass. His passing numbers are awful for a midfielder: only two key passes (passes leading directly to a shot) all season. Only two passes completed into the penalty area all season. Only 2.02 passes into the final third/90, only 1.55 progressive passes/90 (both worse than most of Spurs' defenders). And the mazy dribbling runs that he used to pop up with occasionally have completely disappeared.
Now it hasn't really mattered that much lately because the direct counters have been paying off and Spurs have been playing with the lead a lot. But Spurs aren't going to score in the first 15 minutes every week. And I worry that when Spurs play Liverpool Liverpool are going to set pressing traps for Sissoko/Aurier and it's going to be a mess. I just don't know if you can really carry a true pure destroyer/attacking dead weight like that in midfield any more and be successful at the highest level.
The details are hilarious, right down to Kane bending under a defender to flip him over.Don't know if anybody else watches 44Toons but I find them consistently hilarious:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqX30fuRkhE
GLC got the second goal, although Son was on the play.Solid 2-0 win to win the group--Vinicius with first (off great free kick by Bale) and Son with second. Antwerp did not have touch in Spurs box until 91st minute.
I knew that. Brain fart.GLC got the second goal, although Son was on the play.
Levy and Mou HAVE to accept a loan deal for Dele. I hope that Dele's been a professional this year so far, but since he's not even playing in UEL matches I have to imagine his patience will be gone if he's not moved in January. He deserves that.
Lucas has had just about exactly one hot streak in his Spurs career. It just happened to coincide with a champions league semifinal.The Liverpool match did expose how the counterattack is one piece away from where it needs to be. Could be Bergwijn actually hitting form, could be Bale finding some sort of form and fitness, could be Lucas going on one of his hot streaks.
I listed those in about the order I think they're probable, Bergwijn was really in all the right spots to win that game yesterday, it just didn't land for him.
While I agree, he also seems to get himself in the right place a lot more than Stevie B. I'm still hopeful for Stevie, but Lucas probably buries one, if not both of those chances yesterday.Lucas has had just about exactly one hot streak in his Spurs career. It just happened to coincide with a champions league semifinal.
I don't think the problem is Bergy, or rather I don't think the problem is Bergy alone. I'm well and truly puzzled why Mou didn't play Tanguy yesterday, even for a 30 minute sprint at the end. Bergy hit the post on an opportunity that would've made Mou look pretty damn smart. But what rubs me the wrong way is that Mou's setup yesterday was intended to create a handful of very good/excellent chances and the players HAVE TO convert at least 2 for it to work. Liverpool had tons of attacks and if any single one failed, the players didn't get too worked up because they knew they'd get another crack. Tanguy would've helped possess the ball, even if just to allow the counter to build before he could release it to the outlet. I understand that he's more limited defensively than Bergy, Sissoko, and GLC but even playing as an AMF in a low block would allow him to provide value. The answer to why he didn't play is because he couldn't do what any of those other 3 MF did on defense, but that just brings me back around to the idea that the setup was too defensive, and not necessarily pragmatic, from Mou.The Liverpool match did expose how the counterattack is one piece away from where it needs to be. Could be Bergwijn actually hitting form, could be Bale finding some sort of form and fitness, could be Lucas going on one of his hot streaks.
I listed those in about the order I think they're probable, Bergwijn was really in all the right spots to win that game yesterday, it just didn't land for him.
I too would like to see the team play less passively, but it's hard to complain much when Mou's plan worked. Playing away against the best team in the league, Spurs created four big chances to Liverpool's zero. The problem was that Liverpool scored two half-chances (one a super-fluky double deflection, the other from a set piece and created by a borderline foul) and Spurs scored only one of theirs. That happens sometimes.I don't think the problem is Bergy, or rather I don't think the problem is Bergy alone. I'm well and truly puzzled why Mou didn't play Tanguy yesterday, even for a 30 minute sprint at the end. Bergy hit the post on an opportunity that would've made Mou look pretty damn smart. But what rubs me the wrong way is that Mou's setup yesterday was intended to create a handful of very good/excellent chances and the players HAVE TO convert at least 2 for it to work. Liverpool had tons of attacks and if any single one failed, the players didn't get too worked up because they knew they'd get another crack. Tanguy would've helped possess the ball, even if just to allow the counter to build before he could release it to the outlet. I understand that he's more limited defensively than Bergy, Sissoko, and GLC but even playing as an AMF in a low block would allow him to provide value. The answer to why he didn't play is because he couldn't do what any of those other 3 MF did on defense, but that just brings me back around to the idea that the setup was too defensive, and not necessarily pragmatic, from Mou.