*** OMT Tottenham Hotspur FC vs Manchester United ***

[elyid]

3 good chances to score (scoring 1 of the 3) and should’ve had an assist for Gallagher as well. That’s typically good output for a CF

The first chance was close to “sitter” territory though. In the end not that difficult for the keeper.

He needs to be more ruthless. Always thought he seems to relaxed as a person (prob a very nice guy) needs more of a killer instinct

 

[Bedfordspurs]

3 good chances to score (scoring 1 of the 3) and should’ve had an assist for Gallagher as well. That’s typically good output for a CF

I reckon that’s his first full 90 in a very long time

 

[thfcsteff]

I reckon that’s his first full 90 in a very long time

I give De Zerbi credit for standing by him. I hope we upgrade ASAP and we will need what we can wring from him until then. And it has to be an upgrade, a real one...otherwise we're best waiting.

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

I give De Zerbi credit for standing by him. I hope we upgrade ASAP and we will need what we can wring from him until then. And it has to be an upgrade, a real one...otherwise we're best waiting.

Whatever anyone thinks of Solanke, as a point of managerial leadership to make him captain I thought was a really interesting thing to see. It’s these little cultural / team building moments that will lay the foundation for what will hopefully be an excellent second half of the season. He’s saying to his striker that I’m behind you, and we’re all behind you, and that’s a nice touch.

I think Solanke is miles better than what he is showing FWIW. I think it’s fitness, not ability that is dictating his output.

 

[Gutter Boy]

Whatever anyone thinks of Solanke, as a point of managerial leadership to make him captain I thought was a really interesting thing to see. It’s these little cultural / team building moments that will lay the foundation for what will hopefully be an excellent second half of the season. He’s saying to his striker that I’m behind you, and we’re all behind you, and that’s a nice touch.

I think Solanke is miles better than what he is showing FWIW. I think it’s fitness, not ability that is dictating his output.

I think its age. His body is suddenly behaving like a 40 year old, rather than what you' expect for his 30. We've seen it before with Dembele and Verts when players hit very sudden cliff edges

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

I think its age. His body is suddenly behaving like a 40 year old, rather than what you' expect for his 30. We've seen it before with Dembele and Verts when players hit very sudden cliff edges

I think, given the extraordinarily insane injury crisis we had for two seasons straight, I’m willing to see what it’s like when these players actually get up to something resembling a run in the team. If it’s true what was said above that it’s his first completed 90 mins in a couple of years, that’s crazy. Think about our Peak Poch team and how many of those players would finish 90 routinely each week. All in top condition ready to perform.

Solanke has not consistently played for two years. And I think a lot of conclusions are being drawn on him which aren’t fair. He’s clearly not in form, but his ability is way higher than what he is showing right now.

 

[revlis]

I reckon that’s his first full 90 in a very long time

Only his 8th full 90 appearance since the start of last season: https://thfcdb.com/people/dominic-s...sc&selectedView=default&appearanceType=full90

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Only his 8th full 90 appearance since the start of last season: https://thfcdb.com/people/dominic-s...sc&selectedView=default&appearanceType=full90

View attachment 23510

That aligns with what I was thinking
His fitness this season and been bad
I also wonder with players who have had a lot of injuries how much faith they have in their bodies
Players talk about it all the time and I think we’re seeing a fitter bentacur for example because he knows he is no longer broken
Does Solanke feel like that?
Maddison can’t feel fit with his set backs
Hard to know for sure

 

[revlis]

That aligns with what I was thinking
His fitness this season and been bad
I also wonder with players who have had a lot of injuries how much faith they have in their bodies
Players talk about it all the time and I think we’re seeing a fitter bentacur for example because he knows he is no longer broken
Does Solanke feel like that?
Maddison can’t feel fit with his set backs
Hard to know for sure

100%. The mental load of that many injuries is underestimated. You play within yourself because you’re so afraid of reinjury.

 

[P.D.]

Familiar story really, play well then concede but credit we kept our heads up and more than deserved our equaliser. Our build up play looked better than it did in any of the other games, some nice passing and movement - looked like they were starting to gel. Savio and Kudus looked really good at times, both have a good bit of pace and skill.

I feel when it comes together we'll suddenly win by 4 or 4 goals rather than scrape a win.

Neville said he'd much rather be in our shoes than theirs given it looks like we have some tactics and a style of play.

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

Familiar story really, play well then concede but credit we kept our heads up and more than deserved our equaliser. Our build up play looked better than it did in any of the other games, some nice passing and movement - looked like they were starting to gel. Savio and Kudus looked really good at times, both have a good bit of pace and skill.

I feel when it comes together we'll suddenly win by 4 or 4 goals rather than scrape a win.

Neville said he'd much rather be in our shoes than theirs given it looks like we have some tactics and a style of play.

Best we have played this season by miles, you could sense not taking the chances would bite though, its definitely a theme which needs addressing

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Best we have played this season by miles, you could sense not taking the chances would bite though, its definitely a theme which needs addressing

Footballing wise I thought it was the best we have played for a very long time
The team new how to and when to press
The passing was very good and consistent
IMO There was not gifts for United which generally has been how we have conceded (their goal was great play and a minor mistake which happens)
We didn’t panic and still kept to the plan
It was all great signs big means nothing without a result Monday

 

[clownfoot]

We owe someone a hiding. When it comes it will boost confidence and can see a run starting. The style of play could mean a team chasing an equaliser against us leave themself open and we can take advantage. Just the fact that we’ve not been ahead yet this season means it still yet to happen like that

 

[Bishop]

The amount of people that prefer solanke to Richy is incredible. He doesn't even have a better goalscoring record than Richy. Richy would at least fight. But we should have just kept Lankshear and see what he could do.

Its like comparing having diarrhoea or vomiting. Both are bricky situations to be in.

 

[Bishop]

I think, given the extraordinarily insane injury crisis we had for two seasons straight, I’m willing to see what it’s like when these players actually get up to something resembling a run in the team. If it’s true what was said above that it’s his first completed 90 mins in a couple of years, that’s crazy. Think about our Peak Poch team and how many of those players would finish 90 routinely each week. All in top condition ready to perform.

Solanke has not consistently played for two years. And I think a lot of conclusions are being drawn on him which aren’t fair. He’s clearly not in form, but his ability is way higher than what he is showing right now.

Not a terrible hypothesis let down by the fact he wasn't scoring much before he got injured or offering much goal threat then either.

 

[Gutter Boy]

Not a terrible hypothesis let down by the fact he wasn't scoring much before he got injured or offering much goal threat then either.

Just a look at this is pretty damning: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominic_Solanke#Club

If you ignore lower tier seasons, it's literally 23/24 season and the rest are poor.

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

Not a terrible hypothesis let down by the fact he wasn't scoring much before he got injured or offering much goal threat then either.

I’m just going by his touch and his first time finishing and technique that we have seen him demonstrate early in his Spurs career and prior to it. He has more than he is showing, I am sure of it.

 

[Muttley]

I’m just going by his touch and his first time finishing and technique that we have seen him demonstrate early in his Spurs career and prior to it. He has more than he is showing, I am sure of it.

I think there are 2 stages to go:

1) Solanke is the big enabler for the other players around him but doesn't get the glory.
2) Solanke gets the glory as the number 9 and starts finding the net more regularly.

For me, he's not back to 1 yet and that is because of not trusting his body. Under Ange he was a real nuisance to defences and Son and Johnson clearly got the benefit. He led the line superbly at times and was mostly relevant all the time he was on the pitch.

I don't think Spurs have seen 2 yet, and perhaps never will. Bournemouth clearly did. He needs way more belief in his abilities to achieve that with us.

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

I think there are 2 stages to go:

1) Solanke is the big enabler for the other players around him but doesn't get the glory.
2) Solanke gets the glory as the number 9 and starts finding the net more regularly.

For me, he's not back to 1 yet and that is because of not trusting his body. Under Ange he was a real nuisance to defences and Son and Johnson clearly got the benefit. He led the line superbly at times and was mostly relevant all the time he was on the pitch.

I don't think Spurs have seen 2 yet, and perhaps never will. Bournemouth clearly did. He needs way more belief in his abilities to achieve that with us.

Completely agree with all of that, and I think your framing of the 2 directions is exactly what it is.

 

[K.D.D.D.D.Soc]

Are there any other runners for this seasons S capegoat trophy apart from Van Hecke and Solanke?