OMT ** Tottenham Hotspur v Man United ** 16/2/25 - KO at 4.30pm.

[tommysvr]

Tbf I've been twice, Everton and yesterday.

I can't go because of other commitments like wife is working most weekends so probably a blessing, but I get your point.

This is my seat btw. I did stay at the end and clap everyone though, so not all doom and gloom.

30 years of a season ticket is hugely impressive, and a great view too.

But surely what you're watching now is no where near as bad as it was in some of those early years? I bet you don't remember them -- or at least, you remember the good parts. Even when we were absolutely terrible in the late 90s and early 2000s, I bet a trip to the Lane was hugely special, and I bet you look back on those fondly.

No doubt you'll do the same for this period too. Though this has been a terrible season in terms of league performance, the squad we have is miles better than anything up until maybe 2006. The imo issue now is the expecation and the wall-to-wall coverage of every goal, mistake and scratch of their balls a player makes.

I watched this documentary on Netflix last week. It's only 25 mins, I'd recommend checking it out:

 

[Daveeeeeeeed]

30 years of a season ticket is hugely impressive, and a great view too.

But surely what you're watching now is no where near as bad as it was in some of those early years? I bet you don't remember them -- or at least, you remember the good parts. Even when we were absolutely terrible in the late 90s and early 2000s, I bet a trip to the Lane was hugely special, and I bet you look back on those fondly.

No doubt you'll do the same for this period too. Though this has been a terrible season in terms of league performance, the squad we have is miles better than anything up until maybe 2006. The imo issue now is the expecation and the wall-to-wall coverage of every goal, mistake and scratch of their balls a player makes.

I watched this documentary on Netflix last week. It's only 25 mins, I'd recommend checking it out:

Yeh true, I remember my first game and a lot of the Ginola games for obvious reasons! I've seen some shocking games, the Tore Flo goals when Chelsea smashed us, the united come back in the second half, ginger Pele, Chris Perry, thatcher, hoddle years so I do remember loads. That was a buzz.

I'm sure it'll come back, I just am proper bang on mid life now and I guess I'm becoming like those guys in the grumpy old men series.

Growing hair, had teeth done, work colleagues all 19 year old to later 20s, still trying to fit in.

When maybe I should accept life as it is and chill the fudge out more.

That said this morning I'm a lot happier, haven't shouted Ange out or had a go at anyone on here.

Positive about yesterday as a win is a win. Won't pick out any bad points today

COYS

 

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

You post something like this every week. Just don't go? Give your ticket to someone who'll enjoy it and support the team.

I get that it's hard to give up on something like football but it genuinely sounds like you would be better off if you did.

Moaning fans one of the reason I've stopped going, I assume we are all disappointed when we don't play well or fail to win but the negativity even before a ball has been kicked was depressing, I had people around me who seemed to be looking forward to have something to gripe about, I would never attend any event where I was sure the performance was going to be so disappointing.

 

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

Tbf I've been twice, Everton and yesterday.

I can't go because of other commitments like wife is working most weekends so probably a blessing, but I get your point.

This is my seat btw. I did stay at the end and clap everyone though, so not all doom and gloom.

I use to sit the other side of the goal from you in north stand and I could hear you moaning from where I sat

 

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

Not quite sure what people expected.

I expected an improved performance (players back and some rest). Thought we got that. For significant stretches we looked rather comfortable, but then there were moments when they broke were we looked too vulnerable. Also the period in the second half when we struggled to get out and they had us under some sustained pressure.

To me that's pretty much what should be expected at this point. Get a first choice CB back, a couple of weeks for the players who have been injured and/or fatigued to get back to good match fitness levels. That's when I would think it's realistic to hope/expect that we look more solid defensively. Will still happen at times, but fewer of those vulnerable moments at the back.

Even just VdV back probably cuts their chances almost in half as about half of their shots resulted from a long ball in behind that he would heve just swept up. (That's not a statistical claim, just gut feeling).

Plus add confidence.

 

[Legohamster]

Yeah he's not exactly got off to a stormer but you have to account for his lack of game time this season. BUT if you're having to part with 60m to keep him long term then he needs to show a lot more by the end of the season

I don't disagree sir, which is why I was happy with the loan with buy option

Hes scored 1 in 2.5 games and could have had a couple yesterday with better finishing more sharpness

He also played a couple of passes/flicks which deserved better but Son was completely flat footed.

Hes going to get a decent amount of game time so we should be in a decent place to make the call on him on the summer

 

[braineclipse]

I don't disagree sir, which is why I was happy with the loan with buy option

Hes scored 1 in 2.5 games and could have had a couple yesterday with better finishing more sharpness

He also played a couple of passes/flicks which deserved better but Son was completely flat footed.

Hes going to get a decent amount of game time so we should be in a decent place to make the call on him on the summer

Hopefully him needing some time to settle in, develop etc means it's more likely he'll want to stay here beyond this season rather than returning to Bayern or looking for a move elsewhere.

I think he's a really special talent. Not saying we should sign him permanently however he performs for the rest of this season, but would be surprised if we don't try to take up that "option".

 

[lurker of old]

The question mark is whether he can smack the ball hard like say Defoe did? His shots yesterday were pretty feeble whereas Jermaine had an extraordinary ability to really whack the ball....

 

[Raziel]

The question mark is whether he can smack the ball hard like say Defoe did? His shots yesterday were pretty feeble whereas Jermaine had an extraordinary ability to really whack the ball....

Rushing it, clearly excited and little off match fitness.

Doesn't need to whack it that hard, place it properly and it will work out.

 

[lurker of old]

Something I thought yesterday was how "soft" our midfield was in the first half. No physical presence and nobody even remotely menacing, plus several players who make sure they don't tackle....maybe if they are skilful enough it doesn't matter if we don't have a Roy Keane type? Having said that the first half was completely one-sided...

 

[Raziel]

Something I thought yesterday was how "soft" our midfield was in the first half. No physical presence and nobody even remotely menacing, plus several players who make sure they don't tackle....maybe if they are skilful enough it doesn't matter if we don't have a Roy Keane type? Having said that the first half was completely one-sided...

Maddison, Bergvall, Bentancur, not really what I think our normal midfield setup would look like.

Think most fans still think we need a true DM

 

[SpurMeUp]

Something I thought yesterday was how "soft" our midfield was in the first half. No physical presence and nobody even remotely menacing, plus several players who make sure they don't tackle....maybe if they are skilful enough it doesn't matter if we don't have a Roy Keane type? Having said that the first half was completely one-sided...

We were reliant on our press to defend rather than our midfield which is always very open. Partly because we are pressing and out of shape. It worked against united as they are not good enough to play around our press and more often than not gave us the ball.

But the press itself isn’t great, when playing better sides. It needs better coordination, and we should probably not use it all game long, but be able to sit back at times too.

But to be fair to us and Ange, we’ve had no stability to develop anything. We need a settled team to make advances from.

 

[Bishop]

Not quite sure what people expected.

I expected an improved performance (players back and some rest). Thought we got that. For significant stretches we looked rather comfortable, but then there were moments when they broke were we looked too vulnerable. Also the period in the second half when we struggled to get out and they had us under some sustained pressure.

To me that's pretty much what should be expected at this point. Get a first choice CB back, a couple of weeks for the players who have been injured and/or fatigued to get back to good match fitness levels. That's when I would think it's realistic to hope/expect that we look more solid defensively. Will still happen at times, but fewer of those vulnerable moments at the back.

Even just VdV back probably cuts their chances almost in half as about half of their shots resulted from a long ball in behind that he would heve just swept up. (That's not a statistical claim, just gut feeling).

It's not so much about what people expected. We weren't improved United are just utter dog brick. They had enough chances to be concerned about. United are very poor and struggle to score or create but they did create Vs us, that should be concerning to you.

 

[Kandi1977]

It's not so much about what people expected. We weren't improved United are just utter dog brick. They had enough chances to be concerned about. United are very poor and struggle to score or create but they did create Vs us, that should be concerning to you.

They don't struggle to create. They create plenty of chances in almost every game, but they're absolutely useless in front of goal.

 

[Daveeeeeeeed]

Think we have to remember we have been going through an awful few months of injuries, which have then given us games where we lost by the odd goal, which with a full team(ish) we may have drawn or won. That in turn has given us very little confidence which has grown into lots of pressure on everyone which in turn has continued into one big rut. We couldnt buy a win. Then we have two premier league wins in a row against one good team in Brentford, which was away. Then we had one win against United which is now our 3rd this season against them which is absolutely unheard of. We all know really the footballing gods have never been in our favour yet they allowed us to win this one.

Yes it wasnt pretty, but we got three points, when we could easily have lost to a crap Utd team, and lets face it our form against Utd in the premier league isnt great. I think it is the best of the top 4 of Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal & Utd in the premier league, and the first 3 are horrific.

Positivity people, another weeks rest and onto Ipswich who I think we will smash 4-0.

 

[braineclipse]

It's not so much about what people expected. We weren't improved United are just utter dog brick. They had enough chances to be concerned about. United are very poor and struggle to score or create but they did create Vs us, that should be concerning to you.

Thought we were the better team. That's better than most of our performances during our injury crisis. That to me is improvement. Not massively so, but a step in the right direction. Imo as should be expected when being (hopefully) on the way out of one of the worst injury crisis situations I can remember. Nothing special, nothing particularly outstandingly positive. But improvement none the less.

They don't struggle to create. They create plenty of chances in almost every game, but they're absolutely useless in front of goal.

Perhaps difficult to say anything with stats on this given the change of manager and general inconsistency of their performances and results this season.

xG numbers would somewhat support what you're saying though Kandi. Just 28 goals scored this season, but an xG of 38.7. A normal xG conversion rate would have them around Fulham, Brighton, Villa in terms of goals scored. Not far off Saudi Sportswashing Machine and Forest.

Scoring seems a much bigger issue for them than creating chances.