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**** OMT Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur ****

Most of us wanted to play 3-5-2 today with Bissouma in midfield.... Conte didn't and again most of us could have predicted how the game would evolve.... We let them play to their strengths and we hardly ever looked comfortable with the ball...

What really saddens me is that we have better players than the performances suggest and that is only down to Conte.... Today was no better than Mourinho or Nuno in charge... Today's result and the performance were so predictable once the teams were announced.

All credit to those amongst you on here that can remain positive but I can't at the moment...
3 in midfield by going 4 at the back or 2 up front?
 
Most of us wanted to play 3-5-2 today with Bissouma in midfield.... Conte didn't and again most of us could have predicted how the game would evolve.... We let them play to their strengths and we hardly ever looked comfortable with the ball...

What really saddens me is that we have better players than the performances suggest and that is only down to Conte.... Today was no better than Mourinho or Nuno in charge... Today's result and the performance were so predictable once the teams were announced.

All credit to those amongst you on here that can remain positive but I can't at the moment...

You’re very entitled to your feelings but remember how many times we felt like this last season? That they were better than us, that we wouldn’t make top four etc. I had that hopeless feeling three or four times at least and we made top four and battered them at home. There’s such a long way to go in this longest of seasons, not worth getting despondent this early on.
 
3 in midfield by going 4 at the back or 2 up front?
I don't understand your question. He literally says 352 at the start of his post.
Then we make some use of Bissouma and/or Skipp.
And we have a fresh forward on the bench, once the teams get tired.
 
We let pretty much all teams dominate us. That’s how a counter attacking game plan works. Suck them in and then hit them on the break when they have overcommitted (as Arsenal did on more than 10 occasions yesterday)

Had Sonny and Richy been better passing, we'd have created at least three more clear one on ones/open chances. The tactic worked. As for people banging on about Partey, my gooner mate said he has had 64 attempts prior to that one. 64. You'd take those odds. Personally, I'd have liked 3-5-2, having said that, had we got to 70 mins 1-1 I am convinced we'd have gone 3-5-2 and pinched it!
 
I don't understand your question. He literally says 352 at the start of his post.
Then we make some use of Bissouma and/or Skipp.
And we have a fresh forward on the bench, once the teams get tired.
That’s what was lacking, the threat on the bench
 
We also won there in a cup game under Poch which felt particularly satisfying...

Whatever way you slice it, our record at their place is horrific. 2 league wins in 30 years in the PL era, one of them was the week before a cup final where they rested players. As others have pointed out, fortunately in recent years we have a very healthy record against them at our place. Just annoys me that we rarely make life difficult for them, we always seem to roll over or someone makes a silly mistake. Also annoying that every shot they have goes in when the play us, how many times over the years do they batter teams but can’t score? Never happens when they play us.
 
Tactically we were spot on and it was refreshing to see after the usual dross we usually turn out at the emirates.

If that game is replayed 10 times with the same tactics and players we win that 6 times out of 10 with 3 draws and 1 loss.

To get a loss they need the long shots we restricted them to to go in and or inexplicable errors from us. Step forward hugo, emerson and son.

In typical Tottenham fashion we managed to do all those things and render our world class coach to be left scratching his head.
 
Tactically we were spot on and it was refreshing to see after the usual dross we usually turn out at the emirates.

If that game is replayed 10 times with the same tactics and players we win that 6 times out of 10 with 3 draws and 1 loss.

To get a loss they need the long shots we restricted them to to go in and or inexplicable errors from us. Step forward hugo, emerson and son.

In typical Tottenham fashion we managed to do all those things and render our world class coach to be left scratching his head.

I agree wholeheartedly.
 
Ughhh, not nice to lose to that lot. However, we can't say it's not been coming though....we've all seen the recent performances and we were going to be punished for our low-block (and low ball control it seems atm) sooner or later.

If we win tomorrow, we'll all feel better and that it was a blip....here's hoping Conte DOESN'T do his usual in the CL!

COYS
 
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Had Sonny and Richy been better passing, we'd have created at least three more clear one on ones/open chances. The tactic worked. As for people banging on about Partey, my gooner mate said he has had 64 attempts prior to that one. 64. You'd take those odds. Personally, I'd have liked 3-5-2, having said that, had we got to 70 mins 1-1 I am convinced we'd have gone 3-5-2 and pinched it!

Very much agree with what you're saying apart from having personally liked 3-5-2.

I think this game shows both how strong Conte's 3-4-3 preferences are and why. Even with Kulusevski and Lucas out, meaning no Kulusevski and only Gil as an outright attacking option on the bench Conte went three up front.

I'd take the odds of Son or Richarlison making one of those passes over one of those long shots every day.

It took a clear defensive error, a wondestrike from an unexpected player and a red card for us to lose. If that's what's required for us to lose we're in for a good time overall, despite a dreadful time on the day.
 
Tactically we were spot on and it was refreshing to see after the usual dross we usually turn out at the emirates.

If that game is replayed 10 times with the same tactics and players we win that 6 times out of 10 with 3 draws and 1 loss.

To get a loss they need the long shots we restricted them to to go in and or inexplicable errors from us. Step forward hugo, emerson and son.

In typical Tottenham fashion we managed to do all those things and render our world class coach to be left scratching his head.

I disagree with your estimates on how often we win vs they win that game. I think it would be a lot closer than you say.

Other than that I agree with everything you say. And I think going there with tactics and a strategy that makes for a close game in terms of outcome is about as well as we can do right now away in the NLD.

I think Conte got it spot on and the performance should give us hope for the future doing more of the same.
 
Had Sonny and Richy been better passing, we'd have created at least three more clear one on ones/open chances. The tactic worked. As for people banging on about Partey, my gooner mate said he has had 64 attempts prior to that one. 64. You'd take those odds. Personally, I'd have liked 3-5-2, having said that, had we got to 70 mins 1-1 I am convinced we'd have gone 3-5-2 and pinched it!
But neither Son nor Richarlison are particularly crisp and accurate passers of the ball. Nor are they creative passers. So whilst the system may get them into a reasonable position they don't have the quality or playstyle to execute. If we continue to play the same way with Son or Richy expected to make that final thread of the needle pass we will continue to be disappointed.

Kulu is the exception to the rule, he is complete technically and a very good user of the ball. We don't have enough of that in the squad.

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But neither Son nor Richarlison are particularly crisp and accurate passers of the ball. Nor are they creative passers. So whilst the system may get them into a reasonable position they don't have the quality or playstyle to execute. If we continue to play the same way with Son or Richy expected to make that final thread of the needle pass we will continue to be disappointed.

Kulu is the exception to the rule, he is complete technically and a very good user of the ball. We don't have enough of that in the squad.

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A Richarlson level signing to offer an alternative to Kulusevski and what he offers should be high on our priority list for the upcoming windows (personally i think Maddison would thrive off the right in a similar role)
 
A Richarlson level signing to offer an alternative to Kulusevski and what he offers should be high on our priority list for the upcoming windows (personally i think Maddison would thrive off the right in a similar role)
I was not particularly moved by the interest in Madddison but if he's what we need then so be it.

I often see people compare our midfield with the Liverpool one that has been so successful in recent seasons but that comparison always misses some key factors.

Liverpool played with 3 in the middle and pressed high so whilst their individual quality may not have been exceptional they had the numbers in a key area to compensate. Then add that they played 3 genuinely creative attackers who can both pass and dribble and you see why their midfield didn't need to be so creative.

We have 1 player comparable in Kulu. He can both dribble and pass. Kane can pass but his passing is very much over a long distance, his short passing game is nothing special. Son and Richy's passing ranges are very bread and butter, nothing out of the ordinary. I'd actually argue their passing is very ordinary.

It leaves us in a bit of a pickle. The two midfielders are good players who can pass well at times but too often they overrun and don't have the time to make the pass. I really do think we put them under too much pressure. They almost have to play the perfect game, with little room for error for the system to work. I don't think either are of that level to make every single pass count.

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But neither Son nor Richarlison are particularly crisp and accurate passers of the ball. Nor are they creative passers. So whilst the system may get them into a reasonable position they don't have the quality or playstyle to execute. If we continue to play the same way with Son or Richy expected to make that final thread of the needle pass we will continue to be disappointed.

Kulu is the exception to the rule, he is complete technically and a very good user of the ball. We don't have enough of that in the squad.

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I don’t disagree. Was just commenting on what I saw during the game. We have executed in the past in this system without Deccy, but it does require perfection. I hypothesized this in my pre-thoughts on how the game might go. I think you might find this week’s pod interesting as we get into this whole discussion; I think the schedule is going to force Antonio’s hand with regards to selections and shape.
 
I was not particularly moved by the interest in Madddison but if he's what we need then so be it.

I often see people compare our midfield with the Liverpool one that has been so successful in recent seasons but that comparison always misses some key factors.

Liverpool played with 3 in the middle and pressed high so whilst their individual quality may not have been exceptional they had the numbers in a key area to compensate. Then add that they played 3 genuinely creative attackers who can both pass and dribble and you see why their midfield didn't need to be so creative.

We have 1 player comparable in Kulu. He can both dribble and pass. Kane can pass but his passing is very much over a long distance, his short passing game is nothing special. Son and Richy's passing ranges are very bread and butter, nothing out of the ordinary. I'd actually argue their passing is very ordinary.

It leaves us in a bit of a pickle. The two midfielders are good players who can pass well at times but too often they overrun and don't have the time to make the pass. I really do think we put them under too much pressure. They almost have to play the perfect game, with little room for error for the system to work. I don't think either are of that level to make every single pass count.

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It is why I think -for Conte- Zaniolo will be the priority this January. Indeed, I would not be surprised if he has already been lined up. He is the only player of interest who could fit Deccy’s role somewhat (better dribbler than passer)
 
I often see people compare our midfield with the Liverpool one that has been so successful in recent seasons but that comparison always misses some key factors.

Liverpool played with 3 in the middle and pressed high so whilst their individual quality may not have been exceptional they had the numbers in a key area to compensate. Then add that they played 3 genuinely creative attackers who can both pass and dribble and you see why their midfield didn't need to be so creative.

We have 1 player comparable in Kulu. He can both dribble and pass. Kane can pass but his passing is very much over a long distance, his short passing game is nothing special. Son and Richy's passing ranges are very bread and butter, nothing out of the ordinary. I'd actually argue their passing is very ordinary.

It leaves us in a bit of a pickle. The two midfielders are good players who can pass well at times but too often they overrun and don't have the time to make the pass. I really do think we put them under too much pressure. They almost have to play the perfect game, with little room for error for the system to work. I don't think either are of that level to make every single pass count.

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Fully agree
 
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