OMT The Mighty THFC vs Abu Dhabi City

[thfcsteff]

This is a reoccurring problem which makes question those who prepare the team.
Something needs to change. Because it’s costing us unnecessarily.

Nah, we started with great energy last night, it was tactics which cost us. Anyone questioning the energy did not watch the match IMO...we had lots of it (bar an 80% first Hazza) but they doubled down on Dembele and overloaded our right. We could not get a foothold. The effort, however, was there, we just could not keep the ball!

 

[parklane1]

Again, for me, Hazza and Dembele were key to our problems yesterday. It will all be fine of course - Hazza needs fitness - but I think Moose is an issue.


Sitting on my porcelain throne using glory-glory.co.uk mobile app

Pretty much how i saw it as well, as i said elsewhere it looks like Kane is not fit but insists on playing ( to try and get the GB again? ) As for Dembélé well i know he is the golden boy in a lot of fans eyes but for me he promises so much but disappoints so often.

City are a great side ( probably the best i have seen in the Prem years) and one of the reasons is that they have several players who can win games on their own if others are having poor games, and to be honest we do not have as many.

 

[Jurgen the German]

One of the most expensively assembled teams in history beat us.

You know, just for a little perspective.

And while we were poor, my frustration is not that we lost to City but that we didnt give a true account of ourselves.

Which tells its own story I think. IMO we could have taken something out of it with some belief.

No offence mate cos I normally agree with a lot of what you say, but I'm tired of this kind of rhetoric. Poch said something similar when we lost to Chelsea in the FA cup last season i.e. I'm proud to be competing with the likes of Chelsea. I'm not saying you're wrong because it's true, we don't have the financial clout of Chelsea, United, Emirates Marketing Project or even Arsenal. But the fact is regardless of net spend, we have a team that many feel should be winning trophies and competing for the highest honours. Put it this way, if Liverpool can get to the CL semi final then I see no reason why we can't go that far next season (provided we don't lose any players and we add to our squad).

The game at Brighton on Tuesday should hopefully tell us what kind of mental state the players are in. If we win comfortably which I expect us to do then that will show me that we've got the last two games out of our system. If we play poorly and/or lose then I'll be worried for the United game. I still think the semi final is there for the taking and the cup itself is, but if we do lose the semi and Poch comes out again and says he's proud of the team and he's happy just to be competing with the likes of United then I for one will be very f u c k e d off!

 

[thfcsteff]

Pretty much how i saw it as well, as i said elsewhere it looks like Kane is not fit but insists on playing ( to try and get the GB again? ) As for Dembélé well i know he is the golden boy in a lot of fans eyes but for me he promises so much but disappoints so often.

City are a great side ( probably the best i have seen in the Prem years) and one of the reasons is that they have several players who can win games on their own if others are having poor games, and to be honest we do not have as many.

I think Hazza has earned the trust of manager and team to find match fitness by playing. His goals have been huge and bountiful for us, and n ow he's in a sticky patch, we are absolutely right to stand by him IMO. I don't think the GB has anything to do with it TBH mate...

 

[Rorschach]

One could argue that if Daniel Levy was a "winner" he would sack Poch at the end of the year( bear with me here) and appoint a proven "winner", perhaps someone like Ancilotti who has won multiple trophies compared to Poch's zero. From a personal perspective I would hate that .
I feel that we are all on a Journey together and as this relatively young team grows and develops it will take the final step and win trophies. Again, personally I would hate to be like Chelsea, hiring and firing people with no connection to their club albeit with an impressive trophy cabinet. If that means that I lack a winning mentality , please go ahead and feel sorry for me. Perhaps I am a romantic fool whose dreams of watching us win the league the right way before I pass will not bear fruit.
With regards to yesterday, yes, Poch certainly made some errors and imho is on occasion culpable of not changing things quickly enough and yesterday probably got the team selection wrong. But as I've said before, he's learning too.He did great against Chelsea! We're going great guns with the odd blip . Enjoy!
Edited to add, Coom-baya my Lord, coom-baya

The best thing to do is not to make eye contact and back away slowly.

 

[StephenH]

Nah, we started with great energy last night, it was tactics which cost us. Anyone questioning the energy did not watch the match IMO...we had lots of it (bar an 80% first Hazza) but they doubled down on Dembele and overloaded our right. We could not get a foothold. The effort, however, was there, we just could not keep the ball!

I agree - I don’t think energy per say was the problem it was more application and the lack of adapting to opponents tactics. Dembele was battered by them and we didn’t seem prepared for any of it. Poch didn’t react.

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

No offence mate cos I normally agree with a lot of what you say, but I'm tired of this kind of rhetoric. Poch said something similar when we lost to Chelsea in the FA cup last season i.e. I'm proud to be competing with the likes of Chelsea. I'm not saying you're wrong because it's true, we don't have the financial clout of Chelsea, United, Emirates Marketing Project or even Arsenal. But the fact is regardless of net spend, we have a team that many feel should be winning trophies and competing for the highest honours. Put it this way, if Liverpool can get to the CL semi final then I see no reason why we can't go that far next season (provided we don't lose any players and we add to our squad).

The game at Brighton on Tuesday should hopefully tell us what kind of mental state the players are in. If we win comfortably which I expect us to do then that will show me that we've got the last two games out of our system. If we play poorly and/or lose then I'll be worried for the United game. I still think the semi final is there for the taking and the cup itself is, but if we do lose the semi and Poch comes out again and says he's proud of the team and he's happy just to be competing with the likes of United then I for one will be very f u c k e d off!

As Im sure youll see from subsequent responses, I really dont disagree.

I think it is a huge credit to us that after losing to a €500m team my disappointment is in us, and its not a "c'est la vie" kind of thing because of the money opposing us.

They have the money to buy the best of the best. The average cost of their first 11 is near €50m a head, and my issue in the game was with US.

No excuses made with their budget.

The perspective being, thats who they are, and we really arent far off of competing with them - despite the loss.

 

[The_Midlands_Yid]

I concur with a lot of posts saying that the fact we are disappointed in a loss to oil
Money Manchester who, in fairness to them, have been top draw all season and fully deserved to win the league, shows our level and confidence has increased ten fold. We are a top side these days and not far from the best teams in the world. We are certainly not there yet but we are closing the gap quickly.

 

[Spurs7891]

Very disappointing performance and result ! Never thought our record 14-match unbeaten league run will end like this. Find it unacceptable that we got outclassed in both the matches against ManCity this season, conceding 7 goals. In fact, we were fortunate not to concede more goals in both the matches. It is clear that the current Spurs team is only good enough to finish in top 4 places but don't have the quality or depth to win the league.

All our key players like Kane, Eriksen, Alli and Lamela were poor in this match. Well done to Eriksen for scoring our goal but he was quiet other than that. Strangely, it seems like the return of Kane has unsettled the team. Remember, we were brilliant when Kane was out injured, scoring 10 goals in 3 matches. But we have been poor in both the matches since Kane returned. Maybe Kane is still not fully fit as he looked rusty and ineffective again. Kane did well to create the goal for Eriksen but he was missing for most of the match. Really disappointed with Lamela as he had a poor match apart from a long range shot which went wide. I was hoping Lamela would have the same impact as when he scored 1 and assisted 1 goal when we beat ManCity 4-1 at home in 2016. Son didn't have much impact after replacing Lamela as well.

I think we lost this match in midfield. Despite the hard work of Dembele, we just couldn't handle the quality of ManCity's attacks. We badly missed the influence of Wanyama as Dier was too error prone. Moura improved our attack after coming on late in the match but it was too late by then. Moura still had a long range shot saved by the goalie.

Our defence were badly outrun by ManCity in both our matches against them this season. We badly missed the leadership of Alderweireld in defence. Vertonghen had a good match but Sanchez were left exposed too many times. We were very fortunate not to concede more goals as ManCity wasted a few open goal chances. I think Lloris and Sanchez made too many mistakes in defence.

This match has proven that we need to improve our squad depth if we want to fight for league title next season. More importantly, we need a world class quality defender like Alderweireld to improve our defence. Let's hope Pochettino have learned good lessons from this defeat to improve the team for the remaining of the season and the coming future.

 

[Pirate55]

Makes for entertaining reading at least.

Emirates Marketing Project losing 3 'clutch' games on the spin that they were favourites for in each, throwing away a lead in one where they had totally dominated their opponents and then fell to pieces as soon as the opposition were gifted a goal (Juventus at home anyone??) Amn a CL knockout tie where they were soundly beaten by a lesser team over two legs - ( a repeat of the United game where they took the lead and dominated play but fell apart when their opponents pulled a goal back) can't be used to highlight a poor mentality but our game with the best side in the league which in the grand scheme of things has little baring on the league and was actually spoke of as a 'free game' after our win away to Chelsea (which again seems to have been forgotten) can be used as an example of a lacking mentality and then he has the cheek to accuse others of focussing on individual games - staggering really.

The last word on this is Poch's. He said after Juve that "we need to DEVELOP a winning mentality" Ergo, we still do not have one.

What is so difficult for you to understand about that statement?

Or don't you accept Poch's view on the matter?

 

[billyiddo]

Got the quotes because what i think he actually said from memory was develop OUR winning mentality, as in we already have one but need to develop it further (as we on this side of the fence have said all along) not develop A winning mentality, as you say above.

But really this is even too pedantic for me to put much stock in tbh

 

[Pirate55]

One could argue that if Daniel Levy was a "winner" he would sack Poch at the end of the year( bear with me here) and appoint a proven "winner", perhaps someone like Ancilotti who has won multiple trophies compared to Poch's zero. From a personal perspective I would hate that .
I feel that we are all on a Journey together and as this relatively young team grows and develops it will take the final step and win trophies. Again, personally I would hate to be like Chelsea, hiring and firing people with no connection to their club albeit with an impressive trophy cabinet. If that means that I lack a winning mentality , please go ahead and feel sorry for me. Perhaps I am a romantic fool whose dreams of watching us win the league the right way before I pass will not bear fruit.
With regards to yesterday, yes, Poch certainly made some errors and imho is on occasion culpable of not changing things quickly enough and yesterday probably got the team selection wrong. But as I've said before, he's learning too.He did great against Chelsea! We're going great guns with the odd blip . Enjoy!
Edited to add, Coom-baya my Lord, coom-baya

As we all know, appointing a manager with a proven track record is not necessarily a sure fire guarantee of success.

I agree we are on a journey and I think we are all enjoying the ride as everyone can see progress is being made and we are moving in the right direction with an exciting brand of football. However, what I take issue with is that some seem to think that this alone is fine and dandy. Little old Spurs have reached their summit and have already demonstrated the winning attitude necessary to be a top team. In my view, we haven't yet. We are near the peak of Everest, and we have exhibited incredible talent, fortitude and skill as well as overcoming many difficult obstacles along the way, but we still aren't there yet.

You may be a romantic, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, I have been called a perfectionist, and in my world there are still things where we come up short.

With regard to Poch, I am currently re-reading his book. Interestingly, on Page 71, he refers to a match against Stoke in September 2016. He says " We played .... today. We didnt make a good start in the first 20 minutes, we're finding it hard at the beginning of games; we're lacking those automated patterns of play and our performance didn't flow..". In the 18 months since that game, how many times could those exact words be repeated?

Don't get me wrong, I think Poch has done a fantastic job and we are making great progress. However, he still needs to improve on some aspects and if we are continuing to make the same errors time and time again, is it wrong to point this out?

 

[Finney Is Back]

"we didn't give a true account of ourselves" yet again!
We looked half cooked, just when we played Liverpool in the first game away last season. Distracted, muddled and not prepared. The coaches messages are not getting through for these fast games. Juve away was a great example.......should have been 3-0 down....miracles dont happen every day.....we rely on them in these type of games.

The most worry aspect as I've said before, who here was 'truly' surprised?

I don't see any similarity to the Juve performance. In that game Juventus went 2 up due to scoring from a good free kick move and Davies conceding a reasonably needless penalty. However our general pattern of play in that game was good. IMO it was nothing like the Emirates Marketing Project game on Saturday where we were second best all over the pitch.

 

[Jurgen the German]

As Im sure youll see from subsequent responses, I really dont disagree.

I think it is a huge credit to us that after losing to a €500m team my disappointment is in us, and its not a "c'est la vie" kind of thing because of the money opposing us.

They have the money to buy the best of the best. The average cost of their first 11 is near €50m a head, and my issue in the game was with US.

No excuses made with their budget.

The perspective being, thats who they are, and we really arent far off of competing with them - despite the loss.

I completely agree that Emirates Marketing Project are doing exactly what they should be doing and winning trophies and sweeping teams aside who don't have their resources. They deserve credit for their style of play but besides that, I'd actually argue that they have underachieved relatively speaking compared to Chelsea for example who have done much better in Europe than Emirates Marketing Project and have even won the CL and reached another final.

That being said, our club has improved quicker than most of us (possibly Poch too) would have expected. If this had been two years ago I would agree with Poch saying he's "proud" to be competing with the likes of Emirates Marketing Project and Chelsea. But the money is what it is, we are where we are with a team that most people who watch people would agree have the talent to win trophies. Kane, Eriksen, Toby, Lloris and Alli would get into most PL sides. I'm sure Poch wants to win his first trophy more than anyone but if things don't go our way on Saturday then I don't want to hear Poch say he's happy to be competing with the likes of United as we have beaten all of the top sides this season either home or away, Emirates Marketing Project aside and we have finished above all of them in the last two seasons.

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

I put very little stock in post match comments.

I highly doubt what he has to say in the changing room/training ground would be the same, and those are the talks that really matter.

So, personally, whatever he says after the Utd game (win/lose) I dont particularly care.

I think most often those comments are to the fans, and very much to the effect you say "Hey guys - we are competing at this level - where were we a few years ago? ..."

 

[Yermiyahu]

As we all know, appointing a manager with a proven track record is not necessarily a sure fire guarantee of success.

I agree we are on a journey and I think we are all enjoying the ride as everyone can see progress is being made and we are moving in the right direction with an exciting brand of football. However, what I take issue with is that some seem to think that this alone is fine and dandy. Little old Spurs have reached their summit and have already demonstrated the winning attitude necessary to be a top team. In my view, we haven't yet. We are near the peak of Everest, and we have exhibited incredible talent, fortitude and skill as well as overcoming many difficult obstacles along the way, but we still aren't there yet.

You may be a romantic, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, I have been called a perfectionist, and in my world there are still things where we come up short.

With regard to Poch, I am currently re-reading his book. Interestingly, on Page 71, he refers to a match against Stoke in September 2016. He says " We played .... today. We didnt make a good start in the first 20 minutes, we're finding it hard at the beginning of games; we're lacking those automated patterns of play and our performance didn't flow..". In the 18 months since that game, how many times could those exact words be repeated?

Don't get me wrong, I think Poch has done a fantastic job and we are making great progress. However, he still needs to improve on some aspects and if we are continuing to make the same errors time and time again, is it wrong to point this out?

No it's not wrong at at all, IMHO he does get out thought by more experienced coaches on occasion and he does drop the odd howler Son at left wing back being the most memorable. I must get copy of his book. I agree that we are not at the peak of Everest yet, close but no cigar!

 

[Finney Is Back]

I disagree that money is " VERY significant " regarding this game. We had a team and bench which even if it cost much less than City's it was easily capable of competing with them on the night.

Yes I read your disappointment in our performance. But even in this reply you went further in highlighting the spending gap by listing specifically what each city player cost and as I said before I think is irrelevant.

we were smart in buying talented players for low fees and then backing Poch to turn them into top level players, or in Harry's case giving a player from the youth ranks the chance to develop and flourish. The end result is that we had a team and squad on the night which in today's market was nearer in value to City's.

They paid half a billion euros for their team? Our team is worth half a billion euros, if not more

I think sometimes you just get teams who match up well against you and IMO Emirates Marketing Project are a team who are a good match up for Spurs at the moment.

We play a high line relying on Sanchez’s pace to get us out of trouble and push our full backs high up the pitch to provide us width and stretch the opposition to create space for Eriksen and Ali centrally. Emirates Marketing Project’s attacking pace means that they are good odds to get onto a ball in behind us to expose our high line. Sanchez is able to win the foot race against the attackers of most teams in the league, just not Emirates Marketing Project (or Liverpool). Also the fact that Emirates Marketing Project play two very attacking wide players in Sane and Sterling means that our fullbacks find it very difficult to get forward due to the risk of leaving us exposed to Emirates Marketing Project’s pace from wide areas. Silva was also too mobile and clever with his movement for Dier, which gives them a central focus point to launch their attacks. On the occasions when we did get forward Kane was unable to bully Kompany, so we didn’t really get any joy there, and our fullbacks being deeper than usual means that Emirates Marketing Project were able to defend the central areas with numbers making it very difficult for us to create chances. To beat Emirates Marketing Project with our current personnel I wonder whether Pochettino will have to move away from his reasonably purist tactics, look to defend deeper, protect the middle, keep two central midfielders deep at all times, go longer towards Kane and have three attacking midfield runners (say Son and Moura for their pace and then either Eriksen or Ali to add a bit of guile) in behind Kane to feed off the scraps able to exploit the fact that Emirates Marketing Project have so many players high up the pitch.

 

[Finney Is Back]

The best thing to do is not to make eye contact and back away slowly.

Depends on what type of bear it is. If it is a grizzly then good advice, but if it is Rupert then probably best to compliment him on his natty trouser and scarf combo and ask for a rendition of the Frog Chorus.

 

[Finney Is Back]

As Im sure youll see from subsequent responses, I really dont disagree.

I think it is a huge credit to us that after losing to a €500m team my disappointment is in us, and its not a "c'est la vie" kind of thing because of the money opposing us.

They have the money to buy the best of the best. The average cost of their first 11 is near €50m a head, and my issue in the game was with US.

No excuses made with their budget.

The perspective being, thats who they are, and we really arent far off of competing with them - despite the loss.

I thought that we were rather far off of competing with them on Saturday. We had numerous heart in mouth moments whereas it was only really the break where Lamela took a poor option that we caused the same panic in Emirates Marketing Project's defence. We are also a long way off of competing with them in terms of their points total.

 

[Finney Is Back]

I completely agree that Emirates Marketing Project are doing exactly what they should be doing and winning trophies and sweeping teams aside who don't have their resources. They deserve credit for their style of play but besides that, I'd actually argue that they have underachieved relatively speaking compared to Chelsea for example who have done much better in Europe than Emirates Marketing Project and have even won the CL and reached another final.

That being said, our club has improved quicker than most of us (possibly Poch too) would have expected. If this had been two years ago I would agree with Poch saying he's "proud" to be competing with the likes of Emirates Marketing Project and Chelsea. But the money is what it is, we are where we are with a team that most people who watch people would agree have the talent to win trophies. Kane, Eriksen, Toby, Lloris and Alli would get into most PL sides. I'm sure Poch wants to win his first trophy more than anyone but if things don't go our way on Saturday then I don't want to hear Poch say he's happy to be competing with the likes of United as we have beaten all of the top sides this season either home or away, Emirates Marketing Project aside and we have finished above all of them in the last two seasons.

I disagree. Chelsea had a start of several years over Emirates Marketing Project in becoming a rich man's play thing. Chelsea also had a higher starting point with their team already winning domestic Cups and them participating regularly in European football.

Emirates Marketing Project were several dubious refereeing decisions away from progressing to the semi finals of the CL this season and I didn't see any team in that competition that Emirates Marketing Project didn't have the capability to beat.