*** OMT - Tottenham Hotspur VS Some Gauche Middle Eastern Oil Money ***

[AdamB]

I said it too. Trippier is not Walker. We would be weaker for his sale, and so it is proving. But Aurier is better than Trippier - and much more suited to days like today, when our wing-backs are required to defend huge stretches of space by themselves. Trippier is *useless* in that situation - not quick enough to get forward or get back, not physical enough to even face Sane, never mind the rest of their team, and not technical enough to evade their press, *despite* his skill on the ball. He is useless. That was clear at half time. Poch knew this. He changed nothing.

Aurier *would have* done much, much better. If your hypothetical is that he would have given away a pen, I still would take that over giving away three goals in *total* down the right-hand side.

Another brilliant comment. "Aurier would have done better" - presented as guaranteed, nailed on, factual...there's no way of proving whether he would or would not have played better. Personally I don't rate Trippier but Aurier is a liability and I'm not sure his brain-dead, headless chicken charging around at 100 mph would have been of much benefit today.

Between the two of them, I'd play Trippier in harder games given he's better defensively (or, more accurately, Aurier is a liability defensively) and then play Aurier in easier games given Trippier never takes his opposing full-back on

 

[harr1984]

Give Poch £1B and I bet my house he'd win the league in style too.

In fact, given what they've spent since they turned on cheat mode, City should be winning the league every season by 10+ points. They should also be winning at least one cup and be in the final 4 of the CL every season.

Anything less would be a big failure.

Yeah of course the money helps. But it’s his philosophy that’s the best thing about him, how many managers you know who get their superstars running as hard as they do pressing the way they do? He’s moulded them into a machine, and you can’t guarantee Poch would do that I’m afraid, it’s far easier to do with youngsters...

 

[Robspur12]

Isn't it Poch's job to revive the jaded squad?

I don't understand why you keep making these digs yet you say you don't want him sacked? Shame really.

 

[scaramanga]

Yeah of course the money helps. But it’s his philosophy that’s the best thing about him, how many managers you know who get their superstars running as hard as they do pressing the way they do? He’s moulded them into a machine, and you can’t guarantee Poch would do that I’m afraid, it’s far easier to do with youngsters...

Is it? Or is that received wisdom?

 

[harr1984]

Genuinely mate I think we were hamstrung today by the players unavailable. No sanchez no Alderweireld meant we could not play 3 at the back as we did against Madrid. Dier is not good enough in a back 4. No wanyama to protect the back 4, Rose's form is not up to what it has been previous to his injury, I believe Poch thought the best tactic would be to take the game to City. It's just they were so good and we were not good enough. Seriously don't think Aurier was the difference today.

I agree with you regarding the injuries, but I just can’t believe he thought we could take the game to them - we aren’t good enough to do that away to that City side.....

 

[Robspur12]

I didn't expect much from the game, more hope than expectation, but we were still disappointing. Giving them such an easy start from the corner just set the tone.

I didn't think any of our players were awful all game except Dembele -- his performance was borderline cowardly imo, he really did nothing to try and get hold of the midfield, or drive forward with the ball, or protect the back four... it felt like he was hiding. Really disappointed with him. Winks struggled too, but a player of his inexperience should be getting a bit more help from the senior partner.

None of our players played particularly well, Rose and Vertonghen were among the better ones and even they weren't that great. Eriksen scored a nice goal.

Overall, the game doesn't change a lot. We're still miles behind City, we're still playing for a top 4 spot. Hopefully, the next time we play them we have more fit defensive players and try to make a proper go of playing them on the counter attack, more like we did when we played Liverpool.

Let's have a good response away to Burnley.

Dembele was awful today and not great all season tbh. This is part of the reason we have missed Wanyama more. I am one of his biggest fans but all I have seen this season is petulance from him.

 

[Robspur12]

I agree with you regarding the injuries, but I just can’t believe he thought we could take the game to them - we aren’t good enough to do that away to that City side.....

I think he felt we had no choice mate. It was unfortunately just one of those games to forget.

 

[mudshark]

Sell all the squad and start again from scratch?!? Wow! The reaction on here keeps getting better....

Because sell the entire squad was exactly what I said. And you talk about 'the reaction' on here?

 

[harr1984]

Is it? Or is that received wisdom?

Yes because those at a young age haven’t fully made it yet. Why would Augero who’s achieved everything or David Silva feel the need to want to run harder than they’ve ever done before now at their age? Far easier to get hungry kids to work so hard. Sorry but Pep is an exceptional manager, chequebook or no chequebook...

 

[DubaiSpur]

Come on mate there is no need for that. You are a good enough poster to debate rather than resort to Sarcasm.

No point. Simplest of observations - everyone and his dog saw that Trippier was being absolutely torn apart down the right. Everyone. From WindyCOYS to your average dimwit on Twitter (http://www.football.london/tottenha...esults/kieran-trippier-man-city-sane-14047681), *everyone* saw it. Including a dullard like me.

Now, Poch either saw it or he did not. If he did not see it, he's a f*cking fool, and I have too high an opinion of Poch to believe that. He saw it.

But he did *nothing* about it. Not even after we went 2-0 down to an attack down the right. Not even when we went 3-0 down to an attack on the right. Not even when chance, after chance, after chance, after chance came down the right and our hapless players did *nothing* to stop it.

He saw it all. He did nothing to stop it. All he did was stand there, cheeks puffed out, looking helpless and stone-faced.

There are two possible reasons for why he did nothing about it. The first is that he thought there was nothing he could do - which, to a man who had Aurier on the bench, was inexcusable. The second is that he saw it but *didn't* want to do anything about it even as we conceded three goals entirely down that side. Why is that?

As I said, simplest of observations. I have no patience for those who would pretend otherwise on days like today.

 

[Kandi1977]

Always expected to lose this, but some players were just not up for it. Trippier was atrocious right from the start. Just awful! Serge should have come on after 20 minutes

 

[harr1984]

I think he felt we had no choice mate. It was unfortunately just one of those games to forget.

Obviously neither of us know what he thought and maybe you are right. I just hoped that whilst missing some key defensive players he would have coached a solid defensive unit in preparation for this game. It just looked like we setup as if we was playing stoke again. But I’m keeping the faith with the team and Poch, no doubt about that....

 

[mudshark]

Isn't it Poch's job to revive the jaded squad?

Well it's not anybody else's, I suppose.

 

[the dza]

Dembele was awful today and not great all season tbh. This is part of the reason we have missed Wanyama more. I am one of his biggest fans but all I have seen this season is petulance from him.

I think it was because Winks was struggling alongside him that I was so frustrated with Moussa. Today was a time we really needed him to showcase the skills that we all rave about, to face the opposition, hold possession, beat a man and release a forward pass. He rarely even tried it and defensively, he was just nowhere (though he had some very good opponents).

I agree, we do miss Big Vic. Even at full strength, they could probably give us a good beating. But if would be nice to play one of these big away games with our full defensive setup fit and available. We always seem to be missing defenders/defensive midfielders for these games.

 

[DubaiSpur]

Another brilliant comment. "Aurier would have done better" - presented as guaranteed, nailed on, factual...there's no way of proving whether he would or would not have played better. Personally I don't rate Trippier but Aurier is a liability and I'm not sure his brain-dead, headless chicken charging around at 100 mph would have been of much benefit today.

Between the two of them, I'd play Trippier in harder games given he's better defensively (or, more accurately, Aurier is a liability defensively) and then play Aurier in easier games given Trippier never takes his opposing full-back on

'Better defensively', he says, after Trippier was left for dead time and time and time again with the simplest of balls in behind. 'Better defensively', he says, after we concede three goals down the right hand side. 'Better defensively'.

Aurier's 'headless chicken' charging around would have stopped all of that. He has the pace to recover from balls in behind and the strength to outmuscle Sane. Trippier has neither. He is useless in games like today, when we are trying to go toe-to-toe against better opposition. I knew this, I said this, everyone saw it in action (http://www.football.london/tottenha...esults/kieran-trippier-man-city-sane-14047681) literally as it was happening.

'Better defensively'. Please, don't make me laugh. Aurier is much better defensively. Offensively, it's 50-50 - if we the game is controlled enough to get Trippier into spaces where he can use his technique, he's better. Where we need speed on the break, Aurier is so much better it isn't even fair to compare the two, imo.

 

[AdamB]

Because sell the entire squad was exactly what I said. And you talk about 'the reaction' on here?

your comment was 'I'm starting to wonder whether this group shot their bolt with the title challenges of the past two seasons' which, to me, sounded like you were suggesting a clear-out...and which I've seen mentioned somewhere else on here this evening. If thats not what you meant, then apologies, however its the way I interpreted your comment and it seemed in keeping with a lot of the absurd comment on here

 

[mudshark]

your comment was 'I'm starting to wonder whether this group shot their bolt with the title challenges of the past two seasons' which, to me, sounded like you were suggesting a clear-out...and which I've seen mentioned somewhere else on here this evening. If thats not what you meant, then apologies, however its the way I interpreted your comment and it seemed in keeping with a lot of the absurd comment on here

Your apologies are accepted.

 

[AdamB]

'Better defensively', he says, after Trippier was left for dead time and time and time again with the simplest of balls in behind. 'Better defensively', he says, after we concede three goals down the right hand side. 'Better defensively'.

Aurier's 'headless chicken' charging around would have stopped all of that. He has the pace to recover from balls in behind and the strength to outmuscle Sane. Trippier has neither. He is useless in games like today, when we are trying to go toe-to-toe against better opposition. I knew this, I said this, everyone saw it in action (http://www.football.london/tottenha...esults/kieran-trippier-man-city-sane-14047681) literally as it was happening.

'Better defensively'. Please, don't make me laugh. Aurier is much better defensively. Offensively, it's 50-50 - if we the game is controlled enough to get Trippier into spaces where he can use his technique, he's better. Where we need speed on the break, Aurier is so much better it isn't even fair to compare the two, imo.

Yes, better defensively. One poor game from him doesnt prove or disprove that. I dont think Trippier is good enough to be our long-term right back, but equally Aurier hasn't shown much or anything yet to suggest he is either. To me, Aurier is a liability and I wouldnt play him in a back 4...I think he's more of a wing back. On the other hand, I dont like Trippier as a wing back as he doesnt take his man on much.

Clearly you have a very different view, which you're of course entitled to, but comments like 'Aurier...would have stopped all of that' just look very naive given that none of us have a crystal ball

 

[Robspur12]

I think it was because Winks was struggling alongside him that I was so frustrated with Moussa. Today was a time we really needed him to showcase the skills that we all rave about, to face the opposition, hold possession, beat a man and release a forward pass. He rarely even tried it and defensively, he was just nowhere (though he had some very good opponents).

I agree, we do miss Big Vic. Even at full strength, they could probably give us a good beating. But if would be nice to play one of these big away games with our full defensive setup fit and available. We always seem to be missing defenders/defensive midfielders for these games.

I think we would have played 3 centre halves and would have been more solid for sure. Just don't think sitting deep was an option today.

 

[scaramanga]

Yes because those at a young age haven’t fully made it yet. Why would Augero who’s achieved everything or David Silva feel the need to want to run harder than they’ve ever done before now at their age? Far easier to get hungry kids to work so hard. Sorry but Pep is an exceptional manager, chequebook or no chequebook...

I can see why it's tempting to think that.

Problem is, it ignores the fact that most players have to care about success and be driven more than the rest to have made it that far.