OMT Spurs vs Olympiakos

[milo]

@ me with your man of the match nominations

Nominations for Kane, Moura, Sissoko and Winks so far. Anyone else?

 

[SylDave]

Agreed. That we are upset at the draw shows the progress. If Olympiocos had outplayed us, I think we'd accept the draw. You could see we were the better side but we didn't impose ourselves - first defensively, then attacking, when we needed the final goal. That was the frustration!

I would have taken a point before the game but I am disappointed because we were 2-0 up and conceded a stupid goal a couple of minutes before half time, followed by a needless pen after we dominated for 7 or 8 minutes, it was their first period of possession in the second half never mind attack.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Pochettino needs to sort what he has, as a priority!
Palace to Olympiakos is chalk and cheese in so many departments!

I worry how long Harry will put up with nights like tonight

It’s chalk and cheese because it’s exactly that
Away game, very hot after a 4 hour flight in an intense atmosphere with a team that’s made 50% changes

 

[milo]

Oddly from where I was a decade ago I agree with the director of football thing.

As Poch is the sitting incumbent he should choose the director of football and then if he leaves the director of football chooses the next manager. Otherwise the whole thing does not work.

I agree but I have always been in favour of the DoF structure. I think that there is too much involved now for a traditional manager/chairman to work effectively.

 

[milo]

A nice cameo from Lamela tonight

 

[Bedfordspurs]

A nice cameo from Lamela tonight

Poor though when he should have played Kane in

Ahead of dele currently though

 

[milo]

Poor though when he should have played Kane in

Ahead of dele currently though

He brought some much needed drive and urgency to our attack.

 

[Legohamster]

Dier would be back in the team for me.

Add some fight in the middle, something we are lacking atm

 

[StephenH]

He bought some much needed drive and urgency to our attack.

Sissoko does that every game he is Mr ’drive and energy’ IMHO

 

[milo]

Sissoko does that every game he is Mr ’drive and energy’ IMHO

I thought that he did very well too. He's been trying and pulling off things in the last couple of games that he would never have tried before.

 

[Baleforce]

Pochettino needs to sort what he has, as a priority!
Palace to Olympiakos is chalk and cheese in so many departments!

I worry how long Harry will put up with nights like tonight

I think Kane’s phoning it in too, he’s not working the channels as much, he’s not using his pace or his passing ability to anywhere near their limits.

I don’t like to see him stropping when another forward doesn’t pass either, he did it twice tonight in situations where he wouldn’t even consider making a pass.

 

[StephenH]

It’s chalk and cheese because it’s exactly that
Away game, very hot after a 4 hour flight in an intense atmosphere with a team that’s made 50% changes

Flight and temperature are good points!
The performance tonight was so CL final in so many ways!

 

[SylDave]

Sissoko does that every game he is Mr ’drive and energy’ IMHO

If only he could pass or tackle, or shoot or even possessed a footballing brain what a player he would be, hell if it’s only one of things he would be a decent player.

 

[indospurs]

Hopefully that's our bad half out of the way and the good one is incoming and not the other way around.

Little did we know... or what we feared! We just can't seem to shut games down and control it

 

[Danishfurniturelover]

I agree but I have always been in favour of the DoF structure. I think that there is too much involved now for a traditional manager/chairman to work effectively.

I agree have said Alex Ferguson was actually one the last few years at Man U. But the pub I drink in no one understands football like us on here.

 

[Danishfurniturelover]

Little did we know... or what we feared! We just can't seem to shut games down and control it

We were a bit like that under Jol.

 

[StephenH]

Little did we know... or what we feared! We just can't seem to shut games down and control it

if only it was just that!

 

[Kandi1977]

Objectively, a point away to Olympiacos is far from a disaster. Thay haven't lost at home for ages, and have 8 games in a row without shipping a goal at home, including two CL qualifiers.
They have also won 6 out of 8 games vs English teams.
But it's the way we once again let a two goal lead slip, and the performance in general that is concerning.
Ndombele and Winks as a pairing is not working yet. Both want ball to feet, and don't make runs in between the lines, or behind the defence, to create space. That makes the attacking play static and predictable.

 

[DeanoAustin]

Poor though when he should have played Kane in

Ahead of dele currently though

I cursed him out of it for that but on the second replay they showed, I’m not sure it was an easy pass as there were two defenders between him and Kane and the one coming back would have intercepted the pass I think.

 

[SylDave]

I agree but I have always been in favour of the DoF structure. I think that there is too much involved now for a traditional manager/chairman to work effectively.

It also helps with continuity when the head coach leaves for whatever reason, the DoF in theory should appoint a new head coach with the same philosophy as him hence a complete squad rebuild would not be needed.