Cristian Romero

[thfcsteff]

I am being governed by own bias here, because I won't really acknowledge criticisms of Romero in the greater context. He has probably saved Frank's job thrice over, saved our side, and continues to give every last drop for the shirt. Outweighs everything for me. If Frank were half as brave in his work, I suspect we'd look a lot better.

 

[braineclipse]

The narrative on here is that Romero lost concentration, the ball went under his foot for a throw, and Burnley scored from it.

I just watched the whole passage of play back on SpursPlay, and there is a LOT more that happened.

Ironically the Spurs commentator says "Spurs are well on top here" because we were really dominating.
The Burnley keeper whacked it upfield, we dealt with it fine and passed it back to Vic.
As usual Vic could have played a simple pass to Romero immediately, but he hesitates, looks upfield, considers his options, then fires it 10% too hard and 10% too inaccurate at Romero.
It wasn't awful (for Vic) but it is those fine margins, the 2 second hesitation, the marginally wrong pass, and also of course Romero should EASILY have controlled it.

There is a throw in but the idiot TV director decides to focus on Walker's gormless face and Vic wrestling with someone and back to Walker, so we don't really see why this happens, but Porro comes all the way across from right back area to left back area. That is very strange and makes no sense to me. We leave the right back area to be covered by Solanke Gallagher Danso and Spence... strange right?

Then we clear that throw and it is recycled and they play the ball to the same area, VdV tackles Walker and it is another throw.
That throw goes backwards, then comes out to Walker again who pings in a perfect cross.
During this whole time Porro is playing left back, seems quite odd to me, and planned, as there was time to revert back?

Anyway, the back post is still Solanke Gallagher Spence Danso marking 4 opponents. Danso goes with a runner, the other sort of mark 2 players but basically they just watch Tuanzebe run in and smash it home. Very poor from them.

Is there really a narrative around his concentration costing us because the ball went under your foot? Just to be clear, not doubting you as such, just find that baffling...

 

[braineclipse]

Milo has a very different, and interesting, take on the pod.

Thought it was a good take.

For sure Romero gets done. IIRC the ball passes by the player he charges on to, either he gets done by a good piece of play or a bit of coincidence. It happens.

I guess I can understand the criticism for that goal. If he doesn't charge out they probably don't score, not in the way they did at least.

From a imo bigger picture we've conceded quite a few goals from shots just outside the box this season. Obviously having two opponents free on the ball in the pocket of space just ahead of the CBs is not great. We play with three centre backs at that point, to me it seems pretty standard that a CB presses up at that point. Downside to it, but a rather obvious downside to not doing so as well.

Again, guess I can understand the criticism although I don't fully agree with it. To the extent that criticism is a part of a larger narrative that Romero is a significant part of the problem here I fully disagree.

 

[Muttley]

The narrative on here is that Romero lost concentration, the ball went under his foot for a throw, and Burnley scored from it.

I just watched the whole passage of play back on SpursPlay, and there is a LOT more that happened.

Ironically the Spurs commentator says "Spurs are well on top here" because we were really dominating.
The Burnley keeper whacked it upfield, we dealt with it fine and passed it back to Vic.
As usual Vic could have played a simple pass to Romero immediately, but he hesitates, looks upfield, considers his options, then fires it 10% too hard and 10% too inaccurate at Romero.
It wasn't awful (for Vic) but it is those fine margins, the 2 second hesitation, the marginally wrong pass, and also of course Romero should EASILY have controlled it.

There is a throw in but the idiot TV director decides to focus on Walker's gormless face and Vic wrestling with someone and back to Walker, so we don't really see why this happens, but Porro comes all the way across from right back area to left back area. That is very strange and makes no sense to me. We leave the right back area to be covered by Solanke Gallagher Danso and Spence... strange right?

Then we clear that throw and it is recycled and they play the ball to the same area, VdV tackles Walker and it is another throw.
That throw goes backwards, then comes out to Walker again who pings in a perfect cross.
During this whole time Porro is playing left back, seems quite odd to me, and planned, as there was time to revert back?

Anyway, the back post is still Solanke Gallagher Spence Danso marking 4 opponents. Danso goes with a runner, the other sort of mark 2 players but basically they just watch Tuanzebe run in and smash it home. Very poor from them.

The other bit I remember is Xavi not putting enough pressure on Walker for that cross. It was half hearted and it made it easy to play the perfect cross. Ironically, Xavi then did the exact same thing later in the game.

 

[braineclipse]

I am being governed by own bias here, because I won't really acknowledge criticisms of Romero in the greater context. He has probably saved Frank's job thrice over, saved our side, and continues to give every last drop for the shirt. Outweighs everything for me. If Frank were half as brave in his work, I suspect we'd look a lot better.

Agreed and I'm probably biased on him too for those and other reasons. One other being that in a team that is severely lacking and ability and willingness to play progressive passes with risk he's one of very few who is both good enough and willing to do that.

To paraphrase what you said on the pod one of increasingly few shining lights.

We saw how important he was under the previous manager. Imo that hasn't been as obvious this season because he's been available more of the time. But I shudder at the thought of an extended period without him now.

 

[braineclipse]

The other bit I remember is Xavi not putting enough pressure on Walker for that cross. It was half hearted and it made it easy to play the perfect cross. Ironically, Xavi then did the exact same thing later in the game.

I think in general we don't do enough to make sure crosses are under pressure. Seen those half hearted attempts at closing down crosses quite a few times this season.

Xavi not doing that starting his second game in a handful of days playing through injury with him putting in a real shift in both games I think can be understood.

But for absolutely sure there are other places to point fingers than at Romero for that goal, or in addition to Romero.