*** Tottenham Hotspur v West Brom OMT ***

[Danishfurniturelover]

west brom have been utterly awful this season but somehow put out a true Pulis performance against us, we need to rest and rotate our team because otherwise we run our main guys into the ground.

Good night I am off for a curry.

 

[Huddy]

I thought we got bullied out there today by Pulis anti football and the wind. They were incredibly compact and we lacked a cutting edge in the final third. We really do need another play when teams don't want to come out of their own half and are set up well because we keep struggle to score. Having watched the game a draw was a good result.

GHod I'd hate to be a WBA supporter and pay to watch that brick.

 

[Daisuk]

We weren't very good today. WBA deserved to win, in my opinion. They wanted it more than us, it seemed, simple as. Oh, well. It's maybe the second or third time this season where I've felt we've been second best in a game, so nothing to worry about, really. We need to pick ourselves up for the next game.

Too bad about the bad offside call when N'Jie came through on goal five mins before time. I put £10 on him scoring the winner when he came on.

 

[Raziel]

We cannot complain about that style of play on the one hand and then complain when we get labelled as 'southern softies' on the other.

We need to win against teams no matter how they play - ugly, we'll whip 'em, pretty, we'll whip 'em with even greater ease. How they play shouldn't ideally enter into it.

Not disagreeing that you have to adapt, old Spurs would have been bullied out of that game.

That said, the ref was a pussy on quite a few calls, even before "that tackle", I'm surprised Dembele could walk in that game ..

 

[Raziel]

We weren't very good today. WBA deserved to win, in my opinion. They wanted it more than us, it seemed, simple as. Oh, well. It's maybe the second or third time this season where I've felt we've been second best in a game, so nothing to worry about, really. We need to pick ourselves up for the next game.

Too bad about the bad offside call when N'Jie came through on goal five mins before time. I had put £10 on him scoring the winner when he came on.

? really? for large parts of that game we had 60%+ possession, their entire game plan was kick us (especially Dembele & Rose) and hoof the ball to their CF and hope you could rough up Jan/Toby.

Did they make it difficult for us? = fudge yes, Did they "deserve" to win that game? = absolutely not.

A draw was probably fair, we could have won if the ref hadn't fudged up the Njie call, if they had won, it would have been a mugging (likely off a set piece).

 

[DubaiSpur]

Not disagreeing that you have to adapt, old Spurs would have been bullied out of that game.

That said, the ref was a pussy on quite a few calls, even before "that tackle", I'm surprised Dembele could walk in that game ..

Like I said, I hope that mess he made over the McClean challenge on Mousa will see him demoted to League Two next week. You cannot be that indecisive and cowardly in a game which Tony Pulis is involved in.

 

[SpursNorway]

True, that was a positive. However...West Brom were dominated by Arsenal in that game, and rode their luck to emerge wih a win. We, on the other hand, were dominated by West Brom, and were probably lucky to emerge with a point. I expect this to be a learning experience for our side.

If the ref had been present at The Hawthorns, I firmly believe we could have done the same - aka dominating. But still dont losing.

 

[braineclipse]

We weren't very good today. WBA deserved to win, in my opinion. They wanted it more than us, it seemed, simple as. Oh, well. It's maybe the second or third time this season where I've felt we've been second best in a game, so nothing to worry about, really. We need to pick ourselves up for the next game.

Too bad about the bad offside call when N'Jie came through on goal five mins before time. I put £10 on him scoring the winner when he came on.

Based on what exactly? I don't think that's the case based on the chances each team produced...

 

[We are Tottenham]

Still unbeaten. COYS

Draws will not even get us into the top 4 ...points we desperately need at this stage of the season..oh I forgot its a marathon innit.. ....oh yeah......................
It sounds like some of the players were not at their best to-day.
I did not see the game!
The ref was a bit of a Wanger then...
what do we expect though...? a class referee in this country.
It just stinks....money being placed somewhere.
China..or maybe Russia.

goodbye....title chances...

Funny isn't it. One week were at the start of a new dawn,
then wer'e back to square one ..lol
perhaps I am overreacting ....but I'm so disappointed..a new dawn! fiddlesticks.
Oh BTW...those fans who chanted your brick to WBA.at the start of the game!
worst fans in the country..and complete utter idiots.
Dont follow us again. You must have done the Spurs players a great favour..by putting the backs of WBA fans up and their Team.LOL..WELL DONE!

I want proper fans supporting my club...not a bunch of idiots!

 

[SpursNorway]

Unbeaten yes, but we pick up too few points. At this rate we'll end up with about 65 points, which won't be enough to reach our goals this season.
We lack that cutting edge.

You really believed we would get at CL spot this season? And you based that on what?

 

[We are Tottenham]

Our squad is painfully thin. Not enough quality. That bench is nowhere near good enough.

Yes..exactly..we still have some very good players..no one really World Class in front of the smaller box near the goal though!

 

[SpurMeUp]

BBC have it about right (copied below). It was a good performance from us apart from the 25 minutes after we scored. We were not strong or focused enough to take charge of the ball and play our game. It was like we were embarrassed to be leading and backed off, instead of keeping possession as we did well for the rest of the game.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34951747

Tottenham lost ground on the Premier League's top four after letting a lead slip at West Brom.

Mauricio Pochettino's side were ahead after 15 minutes when a long Toby Alderweireld pass picked out Dele Alli, who flashed a volley past Boaz Myhill.

But Spurs' intensity dropped after that strong start and West Brom levelled before the break when James McClean's header concluded a patient move.

The draw means Tony Pulis' side stay 13th, nine clear of the bottom three.

Spurs stalling

Alli's goal for Spurs came after a patient move

Having advanced stealthily on the top four in recent weeks, consecutive draws have dented Tottenham's momentum somewhat.

A goalless draw against Chelsea last weekend would probably have been considered a decent result, but the failure to take all three points at The Hawthorns will be a disappointment - particularly after the way Pochettino's side started this game.

Composed in possession, resolute defensively and menacing in attack, they were well worth the lead given to them by Dele Alli's fine goal.

However, the north London side allowed West Brom to wrest back the initiative and were unable to seize control again after conceding, despite having plenty of the ball. Indeed, it was the hosts who looked more likely to win the game in the closing stages.

 

[Jordinho]

It's Jon Moss. He performed exactly as expected. Worst ref in the league by some distance.

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

This is where I really miss Bentaleb, and the Mason-Bentaleb combo. Sure Dembele and Dier will win more 50/50 duels than them, but the only thing awaiting us at the end of a 50/50 against a Pulis lead WBA is another 50/50.

People are being harsh on some of the 6 players that operated in the "front 4" positions today (Kane, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Son, Clinton). To me they were all average because we failed to provide them with the kind of passes they can thrive on. This is the job of the other 6 outfield players on the pitch - particularly our central midfield. We were outfought, for me not because we weren't up for a fight - but rather because we were willing to play this as a fighting game. Bentaleb and Mason (on form) would have been looking to receive the ball in tighter areas, they would have looked to make more effective first touches and they would have found a purposeful pass more often and quicker. That would have given us a chance to hurt WBA by playing through their pressure more often.

Not looking to have a go at either Dembele or Dier or rekindle debates of the past. Both have been very good this season (though I think Dembele has been better further forward), and for 15-20 minutes of the second half Dembele upped his game and we looked good. But I miss the options given to us by those other players unfortunately not available at the moment.

A point away to WBA is fine in isolation though. And a draw was the fair result based on performances. I think the negativity about our draws is massively overstated by some here.

I agree I prefer Dembele further forward, he's a good solid CM but better in the forward positions IMO. I'd swap Ali and Dembele round personally.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

This bit, I agree - I think the ref bottled it when he only gave a yellow to McClean. Should have been a straight red -full-speed, knee high challenge with flailing legs, implanting his studs into Dembele's shins. Lucky for Mousa that he jumped in time: if his foot was planted when that challenge came in, we'd be looking at a broken leg for the guy right now.

The ref waved play on for ducks sake
Me didn't see how bad it was as he was useless

 

[braineclipse]

I agree I prefer Dembele further forward, he's a good solid CM but better in the forward positions IMO. I'd swap Ali and Dembele round personally.

Agreed. But I don't think Alli would have done much better than Dembele. Quick tempo passing isn't really his strength either. And Alli had already gotten a goal, and Dembele at least made us solid...

For me it's more of an unfortunate effect of Mason and Bentaleb being out at the same time. Had Mason been on the bench today I feel rather sure he would have been brought into our deep midfield to give us more passing range and up our tempo. Winks being on the bench ahead of Carroll (either a choice or though injury/illness, who knows...) gave us rather limited options in that position/role. Not really the game to throw him into the mix in the middle of the park I think.

 

[Daisuk]

Based on what exactly? I don't think that's the case based on the chances each team produced...

I thought they fought better than us and created more chances than us (we had what, one chance in each half?). We looked toothless, they didn't.

 

[braineclipse]

I thought they fought better than us and created more chances than us (we had what, one chance in each half?). We looked toothless, they didn't.

If you include the chance for Clinton when he wasn't actually offside we were alone with their goalkeeper twice in the second half, though we just couldn't finish it. Kane could easily have scored, as could Clinton if the lino had kept his flag down (as he should). I think that stacks up pretty well to what WBA created. Mainly the chance for Olson after a set piece and a couple of half chances from range/set pieces.

 

[mudshark]

We were poor in almost every department today, well off the pace. There were too many phoned-in performances, which is disappointing after nearly a full week off. Conditions played a part, no doubt, but it can't be denied that West Brom bossed the game and I was glad of the point in the end.

 

[thfcsteff]

Working backwards, haven't read anything yet.

Strong work today, the sort of game we have typically lost in the past and the sort of game where we have lost our heads. Neither happened despite the WORST REFEREE I HAVE SEEN THIS SEASON, a lino who obviously does not understand the offside rue, and the attempt by McClean to break Dembee in two with a horrific lunge which was high, late and scissored (the fudging animal!). Had Dembele not got up, I'd have hung that on a ref who consistently failed to establish that this behaviour will not be tolerated in a modern football match. Have to say I haven't been as angry all season at a ref. When Harry was through early second-half he was clearly being pulled back; penalty for me, but honest lad that he is, he stayed on his feet.

I will say I felt Poch made a rare error with one sub...although I understand why he took the gamble of leaving Eriksen on for the hope of that flash of magic or set-piece, I think he should've taken him off and left Lamela on as I felt Erik was really impressing himself on the game and helping us tighten the screw. Shame that Christian was a bit soft today, as it was his concession in midfield which lead directly to their equalizer IMO.

All in all it is a fine point and gutsy performance on a day which confirmed once and for all that Tony Pulis is a massive clam whose sides play anti-football.