OMT ** Tottenham Hotspur v Rangers ** Thursday 12 December 2024.

[thfcsteff]

Now I know he hasn't got a clue. At least Werner was trying unlike some of the others. We all know he'll fudge it up if tries anything fancy, but I'm guessing Ange already knows that since he drops him as soon as someone else is available.

Werner was fudging brick AND bottled several moments when a bit of attitude might've meant keeping the ball! I think it is about a little more than what's immediate.

 

[Bullet]

Both are knackered.
That was BJ's 55th game in a row for Spurs.
Son was asked to play striker, we might as well play Son in goal and big Fraser Forster as striker, as that ain't his position.

Also it was Deki's 41st game in a row for Spurs, he has played 84 of our last 86 games. Some of our players are carrying the team.

(These stats are all according to the strange new interviewer we had in Scotland, who sounds a bit like Tubes off of Soccer AM, I'm sure it isn't any of the usual 3 interviewers who do all our preview/post shows)

 

[SpurMeUp]

I think this is the first time Ange had explicity called out any player?
Feels like a shift in his usual way of taking the blame himself.

I posted the same in the match thread. We need Werner to stand up and be counted.

Nothing he did had conviction. Closing down, his passing, his focus, his finishing were woeful. Idk how you build up his confidence, but its shot.

 

[SpurMeUp]

Maybe. This does seem a bit out of character for Ange (at least in my experience of him).

I think its just do or die now for Werner. He was fresher than most, and we needed him to have to good game. Instead he was off the pace, unfocused and we carried him. None of his pressing worked either - too late, and lacking commitment. When we could break, he didn't collect the ball and went thru him for a throw in. When free on the edge of the box for a shot, of course he shoots over. Last chance saloon for him. If he doesn't step up, send him back in Jan and play Moore or sign another.

 

[Jurgen the German]

Now I know he hasn't got a clue. At least Werner was trying unlike some of the others. We all know he'll fudge it up if tries anything fancy, but I'm guessing Ange already knows that since he drops him as soon as someone else is available.

Because he’s toss.

 

[tommysvr]

That’s very very poor in my opinion unless there is something going on we don’t know.

8 or 9 lads were very very poor. To pick on one seems unfair. To pick on a lad clearly suffering with low confidence seems like bad management. To pick on a lad after saying a few weeks ago “this week it’s Timo, last week it was Johnson. People always need someone to be a spacegoat” seems hypocritical.

Unless there is something we don’t know here, that makes Ange a bit of a clam. You do this stuff in private.

Sounds like "you've got 2 weeks to prove yourself or we'll cut your loan short" to me. An ultimatum. Good. He's right. Werner was dogbrick and we can't afford to carry someone like him at that level.

 

[Terry Cunningham]

The worst player on the pitch was Brennan Johnson. Fewest touches of any Tottenham player except Solanke and contributed nothing.

He is bang average. Scored some tap ins and thats it. Doesnt contribute much at all .Another wasted 50 mill.

 

[afsoc4life]

Re: Jordinho's post on Brennan

I can't argue with this. I watched it and it looked like he was just going through the motions. Ange's formation requires some form of creativity from the wingers.

 

[afsoc4life]

Its not entertaining if we are not winning games. Whats that one win in eight now.? From when I first started playing/learning about football I have always been told that all great teams are built from the back. If the opponents can`t score against you then you have a good chance of winning. I think our defence is pants. Don`t get me wrong Dragusin was very good tonight but for me Porro and Udogie are not good defenders. Also Romero and VDV are over rated. It doesn`t help that we haven`t got a good defensive midfielder in front of them.
I think Archie Gray is a very good prospect but he is not a defender.
Ange got the subs right in the end but we just look like a mid table team and our results for the calendar year do not suggest anything different. I reckon he will get the rest of the season but will be amazed if he is still in charge next season. Unless we have a dramatic turn around of results and we win a trophy but I would not be betting on it

Playing Gray at CB is out of need and nothing else. He has done fairly ok for someone who has never been in Europe. You make it seem like we are deliberately playing him ahead of Davies, Romero and Micky. We should actually be applauding Archie.

 

[Mosquito_Coasting]

Johnson reminds me of the City version of Sterling. There for the pace, instincts and tap ins. Problem is that this was a City tactic from eight years ago or whenever. Not saying he can't do more, I like him as a player.

 

[kb 1984]

Sounds like "you've got 2 weeks to prove yourself or we'll cut your loan short" to me. An ultimatum. Good. He's right. Werner was dogbrick and we can't afford to carry someone like him at that level.

He wasn't the only dogbrick player against Rangers but Ange choose to out one player it was the wrong thing to do

 

[Legohamster]

Quite obviously, Werner was subbed at half time so whoever the interviewer was asked him about taking Werner off at half time.....

There are quite obviously ways of answering the question without throwing the player under the bus.

 

[tommysvr]

He wasn't the only dogbrick player against Rangers but Ange choose to out one player it was the wrong thing to do

It's not just the Rangers game though. Aside from an assist or two and a goal v Emirates Marketing Project he's been consistently rubbish. Others, like Johnson and Son who weren't great v Rangers have at least pulled their weight at other times.

 

[braineclipse]

If we're talking about players not performing and more experienced players not performing and stepping up I think Bissouma and Bentancur are worth a mention. Bissouma has played quite a lot recently, maybe that gets him half of a pass. But neither are available at the weekend. We were 1-0 down and definitely feeling the pressure. Both taken off, for a fairly young player in Sarr and a very young player in Bergvall. A new midfield composition ahead of a CB partnership including an 18 year old playing out of position.

And both Bissouma and Bentancur was imo improved upon on the ball by Bergvall. Not a good look for the pair of them.

 

[braineclipse]

Werner was fudging brick AND bottled several moments when a bit of attitude might've meant keeping the ball! I think it is about a little more than what's immediate.

Had a couple of moments skinning the full back and getting a cross in. But his overall play was way below his best.

At least Son and Johnson have the "excuse" of having played too much football recently.

Unusual to see Ange call out an individual like that in public. Not sure if it's the pressure getting to him or something else going on.

 

[DeanoAustin]

Sounds like "you've got 2 weeks to prove yourself or we'll cut your loan short" to me. An ultimatum. Good. He's right. Werner was dogbrick and we can't afford to carry someone like him at that level.

I’ve no problem with Ange’s opinion. Werner was poison last night. It’s how he’s expressed it that’s the problem for me. Why do it publicly? And why pick Werner out for special mention when 7-8 other lads were awful too?

It’ll be interesting to see how Werner reacts and how the other players react too.

 

[Baleforce]

It’s another moment of pathetic judgement from the manager.

 

[braineclipse]

I’ve no problem with Ange’s opinion. Werner was poison last night. It’s how he’s expressed it that’s the problem for me. Why do it publicly? And why pick Werner out for special mention when 7-8 other lads were awful too?

It’ll be interesting to see how Werner reacts and how the other players react too.

It will for sure be interesting.

I think part of the "picking on" him is that he was asked specifically about him and if it was tactical or an injury. Had he been asked similarly about others it may have been others that got criticism.

It's a thing he almost never does. In a way makes it worse.

 

[elltrev]

I’ve no problem with Ange’s opinion. Werner was poison last night. It’s how he’s expressed it that’s the problem for me. Why do it publicly? And why pick Werner out for special mention when 7-8 other lads were awful too?

It’ll be interesting to see how Werner reacts and how the other players react too.

Maybe it’s a calculated attempt to try and turn his form around - trying a harder line when an arm around the shoulder for months hasn’t done anything.

 

[braineclipse]

On a positive note...

Thought both full backs put in massive efforts and really tried to make things happen despite rather obviously being tired. Forster was really good. Solanke did well when he came on, Kulusevski too. Bergvall looking good again. Dragusin very good defensively. Thought Maddison was alright too, not great, but not the problem.