• Dear Guest, Please note that adult content is not permitted on this forum. We have had our Google ads disabled at times due to some posts that were found from some time ago. Please do not post adult content and if you see any already on the forum, please report the post so that we can deal with it. Adult content is allowed in the glory hole - you will have to request permission to access it. Thanks, scara

OMT*******TOTTENHAM VS Ar5ena1***********

"Hi Roland. How was your weekend?"

"Well, a bit of a waste really. I got up at midday on Saturday. Had breakfast, Spent 20 minutes trying to get BT Sport working on something called Internet Explorer; finally succeeded, having missed the first 10 minutes of the Spurs game.

"Watched the match. Went on to a few web sites to read the reactions and to add a comment to the Torygraph's '10 reasons why Arsenal will beat Tottenham' article.

"Downloaded the match and watched it again while working my way through a bottle of Jameson's. Decided I had been harsh on my rating for Lamela.

"Went back on the web to read every report I could find. Then I watched Match of the Day, after which I went back online to read more comments on the match,

"Eventually went to bed at 3.30 when the Scrubs re-runs stopped. Woke up on Sunday and spent most of the day on Spurs' fora ..."

"Fora, Roland?"

"I presume it is the plural of 'forum'; don't know for sure, but I likes to sound educated, I does.

"Then I went on to a few newspaper web sites and was magnanimous towards those Arsenal fans who took the result on the chin, of which there were quite a few."

"Hmmm, it does sound like a bit of a waste, Roland. So, you did not really have a worthwhile weekend, then?"

"WTF gave you that idea? Best weekend I have had in years!"
 
To be fair, I was thinking at the beginning of the game, why did Poch throw Bentaleb straight back in? Why wasn't Ade on the bench?

It is starting to feel like Pochettino's team now playing in the manner he wants. And although you could say, well without Kane we didn't look like scoring, you have to credit Poch for bringing Kane on so well. He did the same for Ricky Lambert turning a physically strong but average player into a machine. Sherwood got Kane rolling but Pochettino has got him firing on all cylinders. He now makes life tough for defender and he is in fantastic shape.

Massive performance and result. Blew me away. We know Spurs! ...and normally we lose that kind of game. The team are developing a mentality. Chelsea wasn't a one off. Can we get pool now?
 
Having read through this thread today the negativity from the usual suspects is so laughable! :)

Can't believe I missed Kane's header, the clam in front of me decided to leave as Nabil collected the ball to eventually cross! I stood up and only saw the ball sitting in the corner of the net! I fudging hate tossers who leave early !
 
Ok, so how many times have people on here watched the game now

I've watched it at WHL and twice so far, also Motd hahaha, it gets better every time
 
He was always a 12-18 million player whose price was inflated by the Bale sale. Lad gave it a real shift AGAIN today, and you should watch his role in the winning goal mate.

BTW, never in doubt ;-)

He won the ball, held it, held off the challenge in the middle and laid it off. Showed some muscle. As for their goal, yes, you could say Lamela should be covering. I'll watch again to see how Ozil gets free, but what I think you will find is different is that we had the numbers back there and Walker simply stepped OFF Ozil to cover a man in the middle who was already being covered. Thus lack of concentration. I didn't happen again. The first person I tab for that goal is Rose, and other than that he was great.

Where's the double standards? I've said little about the game today thus far other than I knew we'd win, I new if we performed as I felt we would we'd win and I defended Lamela against yet another mention of his price-tag.

As for 'double standards' perceived? I'd call it repeat offense on Townsend's part. You might hazard a guess as to why, since Sheff Utd, Townsend hasn't figured in the set-up. He is on the 'naughty chair' and being given yet another chance to learn. He won't get many more IMO. Lennon blew a few. Lamela never stops working.

If you wish to feel you're right, I have no problem mate. I would just point out it's pretty clear that Poch doesn't agree ;)

EDIT; I've just watched it again, and other than the fact Ozil was open in the box on the left-hand side, the situations are entirely different. Just follow the passage of play from before Rose gets done by Wellbeck. Honestly, there's no comparison beyond tenuous.

Just some points for Steff:

1. Lamela didn't have anything to do with our winning goal. Rose took a throw to Bentaleb who crossed it to Kane to head in. Where did you see Lamela win the ball, hold it up and show some muscle? He was on the other side of Kane when he headed it in.

2. I agree Townsend has been playing really poorly and hasn't taken his chance when Lamela was injured. He doesn't deserve to be in the team at the moment for sure. But I don't agree he is on the naughty step for not tracking back. In today's paper Hoddle admires the team performance yesterday but still states he would prefer Townsend to Lamela. It's all a matter of opinion.

3. Will Lamela come good for us? Maybe. While his workrate and closing down can't be faulted, his contribution to our attack is yet to be demonstrated for me. As I commented earlier in this thread, his brain seems to be a little slower when he is in possession and he gives the ball away a lot. It is especially frustrating when we have a promising break on.

4. Finally, I still maintain that in defending both the Sheffield Utd first goal and Arsenal's goal, in both circumstances Walker should never leave his man completely free on the back post to just go and cover space. We had two in the box on both occasions as did they. Opponents score goals not fresh air. In that situation, we should mark man for man. But you are welcome to your opinion.
 
In today's paper Hoddle admires the team performance yesterday but still states he would prefer Townsend to Lamela
He also believes in reincarnation and faith healing.

Sometimes really, really good footballers (even legends) think and say some really, really stupid brick.
 
Right midfield/Right wing-forward is the main position in the team that nobody has made their own yet. Neither Townsend nor Lamela have been very good this season, though they both put the effort in so I am happy for both to be given more time.

I wouldn't mind seeing the team that played Arsenal, but with Chadli in place of Lamela.
 
I'm looking forward to going to work tomorrow.

I have not text or phoned or @d or tagged on Facebook a single Gooner workmate. I work in the heart of Hertfordshire so am surrounded by Gooner fans.

It is going to be so good. I won't say a word. Just a small smile and I will watch for the reaction and enjoy it. I will continue with that small smug smile for the whole of the day. Can't wait!
 
I have not text or phoned or @d or tagged on Facebook a single Gooner workmate. I work in the heart of Hertfordshire so am surrounded by Gooner fans.

It is going to be so good. I won't say a word. Just a small smile and I will watch for the reaction and enjoy it. I will continue with that small smug smile for the whole of the day. Can't wait!

I'm planning the same. I am not going to mention the game, just be chipper.
 
4. Finally, I still maintain that in defending both the Sheffield Utd first goal and Arsenal's goal, in both circumstances Walker should never leave his man completely free on the back post to just go and cover space. We had two in the box on both occasions as did they. Opponents score goals not fresh air. In that situation, we should mark man for man. But you are welcome to your opinion.

In his defense, it appeared to me that Walker was not "covering space." He moved toward Giroud, who was receiving Welbeck's pass, and who otherwise would have had no one standing between him and the goal for his shot.

Had Giroud not fluffed his shot, Walker would have been in position to block it. I do believe from what I've seen that Giroud shanked his shot and didn't intend to pass to Ozil, and it was a fluke that it fell to him. I could be wrong, and it could have been a pass. In either case, if Walker had stayed with Ozil, Giroud would've walked clean through on to the goal (and presumably wouldn't then have passed to Ozil, if he indeed did).

(Granted, if Welbeck had crossed to Ozil in the air, it would've gone over Walker's head to an open Ozil, in which case we'd all be right to blame Walker for leaving him alone. But that didn't happen.)

 
^ that goal - verts needs to track giroud and not leave walker in a 2 on 1 situation. verts was very slow tracking back as he usually is.
 
I did not watch the game live as I was in the theatre in the West End. But I have not seen a more one sided NLD from our perspective for years. Cannot believe how well we pressed them and how negative they were. They paid us too much respect. Not that I care.

Welbeck - I'm sorry but when is he going to turn into this wonder striker who scores a goal every other game like many on here worried he would just because he scored a few goals for England 6 months ago? All I see is a guy who runs around a lot, but lacks in ability.

Ospina - Well anyone is better than that Polish clown, but Ospina makes Paul Robinson look agile. He makes the simplest of saves look like a chore.

A bit more quality in the final 3rd and we would have won comfortably. There is simply no better feeling besides winning a cup than beating those clams. How anyone can say the West Ham, Chelsea or Liverpool games even compare in atmosphere or passion is beyond me.

Was Jonathan Pearce for real in saying they should have had a penalty? Mertesacker is about 6 foot 7 and went down like a sack of brick. I thought Ozil's goal was just about onside. The rules are in place to give the benefit of the doubt to the attacker and I feel that is correct. You can't expect the linesman to pick out a player for being offside when his toe or ear is in an offside position.
 
Was a damn close call, I thought it looked onside myself. Giroud definitely shanked his shot, no way was that a clever pass.
 
Replies below mate...


Just some points for Steff:

1. Lamela didn't have anything to do with our winning goal. Rose took a throw to Bentaleb who crossed it to Kane to head in. Where did you see Lamela win the ball, hold it up and show some muscle? He was on the other side of Kane when he headed it in.

I suppose it depends on when you see a situation developing. This will also be personal, depending on how important passages of play in a match are to a specific viewer. Before Rose wins the throw, Lloris launches a ball to the far right. It is flicked on to Lamela who, tight to the touchline and under pressure from Goons, turns inside and resists challenge to play a 20 yard pass across field into space in the middle of the pitch for Verts, who in turn quickly feeds Rose. Then comes your throw, etc. I agree, for some it could be doing too far back, but it is a minute from the moment Lamela plays the pass to the goal, maybe less. He did very very well, and was doing this sort of stuff the whole match DESPITE not having a great game himself He never stopped working, and found purposeful passes most of the time. I haven't seen his possession/completion stats, but I would imagine he didn't lose possession much at all. He also delivered the set-piece for the first goal, no easy feat given the fact that for all his skill, Eriksen doesn't clear the first man too often!




2. I agree Townsend has been playing really poorly and hasn't taken his chance when Lamela was injured. He doesn't deserve to be in the team at the moment for sure. But I don't agree he is on the naughty step for not tracking back. In today's paper Hoddle admires the team performance yesterday but still states he would prefer Townsend to Lamela. It's all a matter of opinion.

OK. Your view. Two things I would say...a) let's see when he next figures strongly in the squad. Who knows, maybe it will be Tuesday but I doubt it. I would say Fiorentina. b) I love Glenn but he doesn't have an inside view of our club anymore or see all our games.


3. Will Lamela come good for us? Maybe. While his workrate and closing down can't be faulted, his contribution to our attack is yet to be demonstrated for me. As I commented earlier in this thread, his brain seems to be a little slower when he is in possession and he gives the ball away a lot. It is especially frustrating when we have a promising break on.

We are all waiting for consistent attacking 'magic', further we are all wishing he would release a little quicker at times. However, this is effectively his first season with us, he is what, 22? And he has the tools. More than most. It will be a case of whether he can continue adapting and 'click' next season IMO. I believe he can. BTW, I decided to look up some stats form, and in the Premier League his average for being dispossessed per game is 2.5 times, whilst his unsuccessful touches are 1.8 (so let's round-up and say 3 and 2!)...he averages 28 successful short passes per game, 1.3 long balls per game (tells you about Poch's style), and he has 4 PL assists. His overall passing success rate is 82.8%. There's a whole raft of stats on Townsend (played less games obviously) but his current passing success rate is 81.1%. Andorra' defensive rating overall average is 6.69, Lamela's 7.12. TBH I don't especially like all these stats, and would rarely even bother looking as I trust my own eyes more than numbers...but it is interesting to see IMO

4. Finally, I still maintain that in defending both the Sheffield Utd first goal and Arsenal's goal, in both circumstances Walker should never leave his man completely free on the back post to just go and cover space. We had two in the box on both occasions as did they. Opponents score goals not fresh air. In that situation, we should mark man for man. But you are welcome to your opinion.

Walker was partially at fault for the first-goal yesterday, but equally, I would say it was the only time in the whole match where our CMs and left-bc were caught 'behind' the play significantly,thus putting strain on the defenders. If Walker does not try to check in and block Giroud's, err, 'shot', who is there? Let's be honest, that was one of the most fortuitous mis-kicks we will see all season. I think my issue with your observation was that you tried to 'like-for-like' the two goals when they were both different goals in different situations. BTW, both goals in Sheffield were not at all helped by Townsend not tracking back IMO.
 
Back