Attacking with intent/purpose

[diego_maradona]

Watching Spurs since the year we sold Modric, VdV and King retired, we noticed a change in our playing style. Yes there was a managerial change. But suddenly we stopped being the free scoring Tottenham side we enjoyed so much for most of the season past. We became cagey, kept it tight, a little uneventful, but we had a superstar. We had Bale.

Did he mask a lot of inadequacies? No doubt. We all knew that but we set the team up to win. Scratch that, we set it up for Bale to win us the game. To nick the winner.

We lost Bale and suddenly those inadequacies going forward were suddenly a lot more visible for everyone to see.

Why are we so limp moving forward? Formations, tactics, managers? Or is it the players? IMO our attacking players never look like they believe they are going to score. They keep it pretty, we pass, we keep possession but are we ruthless? Not even close.

Looking back, players like Bale, Van der Vaart and even Defoe genuinely believed with each attack this was their moment to score. Does anyone else feel like this is missing? Not just scoring but even genuinely looking to create a real goal scoring opportunity. Huddlestone could hit a pass. Modric too. They were progressive. There was intent behind their passes. Holtby had this. He was a bit wild, but e looked to create genuine scoring chances. Siggy had a knack for a goal. He always looked like he sniffed a goal whenever we came forward. Dempsey too.

For me we are missing these players right now. It's a confidence thing too as Ade clearly showed as he came back in from the wilderness last season and couldn't stop scoring.

Just compare us to Liverpool of last season or Chelsea or City. Top class forwards whose eyes just light up when they move forward. They genuinely believe they will score. Not only do the fans currently think we won't score. I think the players do too.

Can being ruthless be coached? Or are we just missing a vital ingredient to our squad here?

 

[BrainOfLevy]

It's a mentality thing. I think away from home we look far better. Sunderland were sitting deep against us but we penetrated them time after time a couple of weeks ago. Our players are afraid of not making the perfect pass, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that our fans give the players howls of derision should they misplace a pass. Our stadium is the archetypal 'sing when you're winning' crowd, and it's embarrassing.

 

[Cochise]

Balls, Brains and coordination.

We lack them. Be it players *****ing out of challenges, not getting their head up to pass the ball or two players running into the same space or tracking the same man. All of these are factors that limit us as a team. I ask you: What is the point in playing such an aggresive press if the players can't pick out a good pass or strike the ball on target?

 

[diego_maradona]

It's a mentality thing. I think away from home we look far better. Sunderland were sitting deep against us but we penetrated them time after time a couple of weeks ago. Our players are afraid of not making the perfect pass, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that our fans give the players howls of derision should they misplace a pass. Our stadium is the archetypal 'sing when you're winning' crowd, and it's embarrassing.

The players are a little fragile then. We lost the experience of players like VdV who didn't give a f*ck what the crowd would say. (we worshipped the ground he walked on!)

The inexperience of the squad no doubt affects the players. I agree it is a mentality thing, but isn't that a fundamental part of the make up of a forward designed to score or engineer goals? Defoe had his faults (I can't believe I'm using him as a shining light here) but he backed himself to score everytime. No once can doubt that, he always thought he'd score. We miss that I feel.

If Defoe and Holtby played tonight we'd have won that comfortably. Mentally they knew how to go for the throat and go for goal. Against better sides their quality was exposed

 

[diego_maradona]

Balls, Brains and coordination.

We lack them. Be it players *****ing out of challenges, not getting their head up to pass the ball or two players running into the same space or tracking the same man. All of these are factors that limit us as a team. I ask you: What is the point in playing such an aggresive press if the players can't pick out a good pass or strike the ball on target?

Purely a confidence thing right now? There was a time Bale wasn't anywhere near as good as he is today. But then he grew in confidence.

 

[Gutter Boy]

I think we moved from plucky underdogs to a team sides began to fear. We used to be given far more space/freedom than we are now.

Having to learn to play like a big team - i.e. through possession against set defences - is part of our progression, not a regression.

 

[the dza]

It's a mentality thing. I think away from home we look far better. Sunderland were sitting deep against us but we penetrated them time after time a couple of weeks ago. Our players are afraid of not making the perfect pass, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that our fans give the players howls of derision should they misplace a pass. Our stadium is the archetypal 'sing when you're winning' crowd, and it's embarrassing.

All the top sides have crowds like this, they just have better players who cope with it.

We used to have a lot more pace and quality in the team; not just Bale and Lennon stretching the play with their speed and wing ability, but intelligent players who could pass the ball really well, like Modric, VdV and even Hudd.

Right now, we lack pace and quick passers, so everything is slow and to feet. We have nobody who dribbles through the middle, so teams can sit deep and our play goes from one side of the pitch to the other.

We try to play like Barca, but we don't have the players for it. We should instead try to play more like Dortmund.

 

[diego_maradona]

All the top sides have crowds like this, they just have better players who cope with it.

We used to have a lot more pace and quality in the team; not just Bale and Lennon stretching the play with their speed and wing ability, but intelligent players who could pass the ball really well, like Modric, VdV and even Hudd.

Right now, we lack pace and quick passers, so everything is slow and to feet. We have nobody who dribbles through the middle, so teams can sit deep and our play goes from one side of the pitch to the other.

We try to play like Barca, but we don't have the players for it. We should instead try to play more like Dortmund.

I honestly feel that's what Pochettino wants.

 

[Jordinho]

It's a mentality thing. I think away from home we look far better. Sunderland were sitting deep against us but we penetrated them time after time a couple of weeks ago. Our players are afraid of not making the perfect pass, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that our fans give the players howls of derision should they misplace a pass. Our stadium is the archetypal 'sing when you're winning' crowd, and it's embarrassing.

Used to be a time when we couldn't buy an away win.

How the opposition approach a game gets too easily dismissed. It's not all down to us. We haven't gotten to the stage where we're comfortable passing it around for a bit, then turning. All those errors leading to goals will impact on the confidence of the players.

Why have Liverpool suddenly turned into this slow and ponderous team? They still have the same manager and most of the same players. They've lost that flow they had last season and maybe doubts are creeping in. It's hard to keep doing what you're supposed to be doing if you're not confident in it.

 

[diego_maradona]

Used to be a time when we couldn't buy an away win.

How the opposition approach a game gets too easily dismissed. It's not all down to us. We haven't gotten to the stage where we're comfortable passing it around for a bit, then turning. All those errors leading to goals will impact on the confidence of the players.

Why have Liverpool suddenly turned into this slow and ponderous team? They still have the same manager and most of the same players. They've lost that flow they had last season and maybe doubts are creeping in. It's hard to keep doing what you're supposed to be doing if you're not confident in it.

Good post Jordinho. That's all very true. Liverpool an interesting example. Want to see how that pans out during the course of the season.

 

[the dza]

I honestly feel that's what Pochettino wants.

I hope so, I think in time he will move us closer to that style.

Dortmund don't seem to care if they only have 40% of the possession, but they go aggressive when they get it, they press and win it in dangerous areas. And they have won titles and got to Champions League finals playing this way. They've done it buying cheap players who fit their style.

I don't know why we have become a possession at all costs team. It's fine if you have players that can change gear and move the ball quicker, and you also need dribblers (think Messi, Iniesta). Emirates Marketing Project have Yaya, Silva, Aguerro to give them penetration (ha!). We just don't have this, we're just so blunt. We try and play with finese but we don't have the edge required, so it just goes around and around with nothing passes.

We need to sack Baldini, who has been a complete disaster. Then we need to buy players who fit Pochs vision, and ship out those who don't. And baldy b0llocks just needs to get it done, instead of quibbling over b*llsh1t.

 

[Bullet]

It has got to the point where I'm watching Dwight Gayle for Palace and marvelling at the way he actually shoots at that thing... you know... that big white rectangle with the net on it.

Amazing. We should ask Dwight to come in and point our players towards the big white rectangle net thing, he definitely knows which way it is.

 

[DTA]

Many here will hate this, but didn't we play attacking football under Sherwood with basically the same group of players?

I certainly thought we did, and the stats actually back this up. Scored 3 times or more in his 6 months then Avbs teams did in 18 months.

My point is that maybe just maybe it's not the players that's the problem, but the system. Football comes in cycles and I think we are late to the 451/433 party, its success have seen teams find ways to counter it. The ' dinasaur' of the 442 may not be extinct after all.

 

[Rorschach]

Playing out from the back means that the opposition have plenty of time to get back into a good defensive shape. Each and every one of our players seem to me to take extra touches and as such the ball doesn't travel from back to front very quickly. Quick transitions, one/two touch passing and clever movement are things we specialise in not doing. Our midfielders get the brunt of the criticism but but the problem is endemic. Every one of our players has contracted toomanytouchitis though some are more afflicted than others.
There were positive signs in pre-season that these were things we had been working on but tonight I saw us laboriously attempt to move the ball up the pitch in a fashion that was remarkably similar to AVB's time at the club. The similarities were striking even down to Soldado running through a forest (like it? ) of players with practically no chance of ever receiving a ball slid into him. Then we bring a player on that frequently attempts that type of pass and he brings off Soldado.

I'll give Poch the season to sort this mess out but I really want to see him use the right players together and I want us to move the ball around quicker. And world peace.

 

[Rorschach]

I honestly feel that's what Pochettino wants.

GHod I hope so.

 

[mattls]

Some good points, on this thread..

Only in the last 20 mins did we raise the tempo, and start moving the ball forwards instead of sideways. Certainly when Kane moved up top with Soldado in a 4-4-2, we looked much more dangerous and after we scored the confidence did come through.

I think what we saw tonight was a midfield where nobody wanted to take responsibility and get on the ball, Bentaleb is not the answer as the play maker, he was scared to get on the ball. We desperately need a creative/playmaker asap and this should have been one of priorities after modric departed. I know we missed out on joao Moutinho but we should have gone and bought miralem pjanic from Roma in the summer instead (Baldini has his number!!). I thought when we bought the 7 new signings last summer, that Eriksen would be in the modric role but he's currently playing as one of the 3 attackers. Until we rectify this problem we will struggle to create chances. Ok, we have Eriksen and and Lamela in behind the striker in the first 11 but i still feel we need a further creative influence behind them to control the game and move the ball forward.

Also, i'm still not sure if these inverted wingers is working. Unless the left and right backs are pushing on it doesnt work, it didnt work for AVB and its not happening right now, all our attacks were so predictable with townsend a left footer playing on the right drifting inside and lennon a right footer on the left.

 

[Pirate55]

Interesting thread. I really hope we can see soon where The Poch vision is going. Can't really see it yet.

One thing is certain.

Baldini HAS to go. We really have bought some dross.

 

[mudshark]

The thread title immediately put me in mind of Gandhi's response when asked what he thought about western civilization.

 

[spasm]

I think we moved from plucky underdogs to a team sides began to fear. We used to be given far more space/freedom than we are now.

Having to learn to play like a big team - i.e. through possession against set defences - is part of our progression, not a regression.

positive outlook..i on the other hand have started to think about the much maligned 4-4-2..soon as Kane came on in support of Soldado, we looked more potent upfront. plus, IIRC at one stage under Jol, we were more solid defending with two banks of four denying space..very difficult to break down.

 

[awesome dawson]

To Dare is to Do

Stop this sideways passing back and forth BS and get it wide into the channels (and then box) at pace. Soldado and Ade will thrive off this kind of service.