- Jun 13, 2008
- 21,896
- 32,586
Nah, it wasn't very good at all.
I'm just going to recycle posts from during the game instead of writing something new. A shit show like that doesn't deserve much effort.
First half was an omnishambles, how I saw it at half time:
- first off, and a biggy, desire and intensity weren't there.
- we cant keep the ball under pressure as they put the squeeze on. No options.
- we are then playing some awful long balls forward that actually put us under pressure as they don't even reach our advanced players and land at their midfielders to spring an attack.
- the defence has been very poor. They're not playing as a unit, no one is talking, no one is leading, no one is organising. Dier wants to drop, Vertonghen wants to step up, Sanchez does one thing then t'other. It's a fucking mess.
- Our shape/compactness, and/or press has been so ragged.
- That's yet another set piece goal conceded, and yet again Dier is man on the scene.
- I think Hugo can do a bit better on both goals, positioning for the first, reactions for the second.
- Apart from the briefest sporadic moments our attack has been non-existent. Alli has been disappointing, Eriksen cant get into the game.
- But the main point is that we may as well have 10 men out there, as Kane is nowhere near it. He cant run.
And then on top of all that, you've got a bit of bad luck with refereeing decisions thrown into the mix. But we only had ourselves to blame being in that situation, it wasn't good enough.
The second half was a bit different. We had some respite because fairly early on they decided to shell and play on the counter so we were able to get up the pitch, but we still lacked any real threat and our use of the ball was throughout the game awful.
Poch has yet again made a big call in regards to the fitness of players and it's backfired on him. They weren't the reason we lost, but it was like playing with 9 men as Alli and Kane just didn't/couldn't offer anything (particularly in movement on or off the ball, attack or defensive effort) and you aren't going to get away with carrying such obvious passengers in a big game.
As for what we need to learn, and really improve on, from this game, I think its simple - pass and move. This was what I said after the game:
A large part of the problem is that our pass and move still isn't at a standard it could be. Too many of our players are just not tuned to playing at one or two touch over and over and over, then as a collective our movement, playing little triangles etc, could be better. I don't need to name names, we have a lot of ability in the squad but we all know which players, and there's a few of them, that struggle to control a ball and need that extra touch or two (or three, four, five...) and enjoy holding onto the ball.
People like myself often point out after matches when we see lots of this, when players are holding the ball too long, we're not moving the ball quick enough or linking that well in large parts of our general play - but then we usually play bus-parkers and do show enough quality moments to eventually win - and so other posters just go 'ffs stop being so negative, enjoy the win'... Well that's why I mention it, because we have to be better in the weaker games and have better standards. If we're a bit slow in those games, it will definitely get shown up in high intensity games where teams put the squeeze on us - and yet again a team that presses us, as today for the main part of the match, we cant handle and look lost.
We've got to strive to pass and move better whoever we're playing.
No more explanation needed.
The only crumbs of comfort are that this got put back a week due to internationals, otherwise I'd have been subjected to that on my birthday... A lucky escape.
Oh dear.
Lloris - I think his positioning could be better for the first goal, you would hope he reacts a bit quicker for the second. The rap sheet in big games has grown..... Did make some good saves in the latter stages.
Sanchez - Not a great first half. Did better in the second when his recovery pace came into play as they counter attacked.
Dier - Needs some intensive work on defending set pieces, another goal conceded in this way where he is on the scene.
Vertonghen - Worst game of the season by far, as part of a malfunctioning unit.
Trippier - Meh.
Sissoko - 10 for effort. Fuck off for everything else.
Dembele - The clock is ticking....
Davies - Meh.
Eriksen - Subdued.
Alli - Like playing with 10 men
Kane - Like playing with 9 men
Subs:
Winks - Played some passes.
Llorente - Won a header and created a chance. That this was an improvement says it all.
Son - Wasted said chance.
I'm just going to recycle posts from during the game instead of writing something new. A shit show like that doesn't deserve much effort.
First half was an omnishambles, how I saw it at half time:
- first off, and a biggy, desire and intensity weren't there.
- we cant keep the ball under pressure as they put the squeeze on. No options.
- we are then playing some awful long balls forward that actually put us under pressure as they don't even reach our advanced players and land at their midfielders to spring an attack.
- the defence has been very poor. They're not playing as a unit, no one is talking, no one is leading, no one is organising. Dier wants to drop, Vertonghen wants to step up, Sanchez does one thing then t'other. It's a fucking mess.
- Our shape/compactness, and/or press has been so ragged.
- That's yet another set piece goal conceded, and yet again Dier is man on the scene.
- I think Hugo can do a bit better on both goals, positioning for the first, reactions for the second.
- Apart from the briefest sporadic moments our attack has been non-existent. Alli has been disappointing, Eriksen cant get into the game.
- But the main point is that we may as well have 10 men out there, as Kane is nowhere near it. He cant run.
And then on top of all that, you've got a bit of bad luck with refereeing decisions thrown into the mix. But we only had ourselves to blame being in that situation, it wasn't good enough.
The second half was a bit different. We had some respite because fairly early on they decided to shell and play on the counter so we were able to get up the pitch, but we still lacked any real threat and our use of the ball was throughout the game awful.
Poch has yet again made a big call in regards to the fitness of players and it's backfired on him. They weren't the reason we lost, but it was like playing with 9 men as Alli and Kane just didn't/couldn't offer anything (particularly in movement on or off the ball, attack or defensive effort) and you aren't going to get away with carrying such obvious passengers in a big game.
As for what we need to learn, and really improve on, from this game, I think its simple - pass and move. This was what I said after the game:
A large part of the problem is that our pass and move still isn't at a standard it could be. Too many of our players are just not tuned to playing at one or two touch over and over and over, then as a collective our movement, playing little triangles etc, could be better. I don't need to name names, we have a lot of ability in the squad but we all know which players, and there's a few of them, that struggle to control a ball and need that extra touch or two (or three, four, five...) and enjoy holding onto the ball.
People like myself often point out after matches when we see lots of this, when players are holding the ball too long, we're not moving the ball quick enough or linking that well in large parts of our general play - but then we usually play bus-parkers and do show enough quality moments to eventually win - and so other posters just go 'ffs stop being so negative, enjoy the win'... Well that's why I mention it, because we have to be better in the weaker games and have better standards. If we're a bit slow in those games, it will definitely get shown up in high intensity games where teams put the squeeze on us - and yet again a team that presses us, as today for the main part of the match, we cant handle and look lost.
We've got to strive to pass and move better whoever we're playing.
No more explanation needed.
The only crumbs of comfort are that this got put back a week due to internationals, otherwise I'd have been subjected to that on my birthday... A lucky escape.
Oh dear.
Lloris - I think his positioning could be better for the first goal, you would hope he reacts a bit quicker for the second. The rap sheet in big games has grown..... Did make some good saves in the latter stages.
Sanchez - Not a great first half. Did better in the second when his recovery pace came into play as they counter attacked.
Dier - Needs some intensive work on defending set pieces, another goal conceded in this way where he is on the scene.
Vertonghen - Worst game of the season by far, as part of a malfunctioning unit.
Trippier - Meh.
Sissoko - 10 for effort. Fuck off for everything else.
Dembele - The clock is ticking....
Davies - Meh.
Eriksen - Subdued.
Alli - Like playing with 10 men
Kane - Like playing with 9 men
Subs:
Winks - Played some passes.
Llorente - Won a header and created a chance. That this was an improvement says it all.
Son - Wasted said chance.