Match Threads Spurs vs Sheffield Utd - 16th September - 3:00pm

mpickard2087 said:

Blimey.

First half, I felt we were doing all the right things. Controlled possession, controlled territory, tried to work combinations and rotations in our play. We were doing the right things to try and break the deadlock. Things just lacked a little bit of nous/cutting edge and sharpness to what we did in and around the area and in our final action.

Second half I disliked more and more as it went on. It’s one things fans getting uptight and frustrated, but the players started to play in that manner too. Players, Maddison one of the chief culprits, just trying to force the play non-stop and not building pressure and we gradually lost some control on the game and it got more stretched and open. There was an absolutely rubbish 5-10 mins spell where we’d cough the ball up with a speculative ball in behind, the resulting kick from the keeper would be booted to McBurnie who was winning it all against the left side of our defence, SU would then win the 2nd/3rd ball as we got lazier in our defensive application, all of a sudden had some ball around our penalty area, we’d scramble it back, rush a through ball, and repeat….

Eventually during this spell of back and forth, they get a set piece long throw. Now I swear to you all, the last thing I say to the people I’m watching with as they prepare to take it is “three men unmarked edge of the area…”. They throw it in, it’s scrappy, one of those aforementioned runs onto it and slams it home. I’m not going to blame Spurs/Ange here, every single pro team and manager for some reason defends in this way, packs the area and leaves players unmarked on the edge to pounce on the second ball. Why, god knows. I just shake my head with every goal that gets conceded in this fashion. So avoidable.

At this point you can’t be blamed for fearing the worst. But there was a twist to come. Now obviously SU would be sitting on that 1-0 and we hardly had to work for control of ball or territory late on, but we kept huffing and puffing away, Postecoglou made some interesting (how often have you seen Son taken off over the years when chasing a goal?) and ambitious (taking off a centre back for more advanced options, are you watching Antonio!?) subs, and eventually the football gods smiled on us. Pressure, forced a corner, header, equaliser. Thank fuck, something out of it at least. But that wasn’t it, high press wins the ball back immediately, three clever sharp passes, Kulusevski is suddenly in some space, manages to belt the ball better with his right foot than he has at any point in the last 12 months with his left, and ding ding we have a winner. Extraordinary exhilarating finish.

Now look, I’ve said a few times already this season that I feel the test will be when teams start to sit and counter on us and there is reduced space and we need extra nous and precision and ability to break teams down. Today we did nearly fail this examination, in fact regardless of the result in some ways we actually did – especially pertinent for me was that we didn’t remain patient and work combinations and forced the play far too much and ceded some control. Many things to take and reflect and improve on from that 90 mins. But for tonight we celebrate, credit to them for digging deep and turning the match around, was a great buzz and beautiful moment that only sport provides.

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chas vs dave said:

The stoppage time has nothing to do with the referee.

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Law 7 - The Duration of the Match

IFAB Laws of the Game

www.thefa.com

• substitutions
• assessment and/or removal of injured players
• wasting time
• disciplinary sanctions
• medical stoppages permitted by competition rules e.g. ‘drinks’ breaks (which should not exceed one minute) and ‘cooling’ breaks (ninety seconds to three minutes)
• delays relating to VAR 'checks' and 'reviews'
• goal celebrations
• any other cause, including any significant delay to a restart (e.g. due to interference by an outside agent)

chas vs dave said:

The stoppage time has nothing to do with the referee.

Also mcburney was lucky not to get a yellow in the first half for kicking the ball away.

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Arden said:

Howard Webb was asked the other day on an interview with Neville whether they were prepared to send off a player for time wasting. He said absolutely yes.

the ref bottled it pure and simple

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DarwinSpur said:

Law 7 - The Duration of the Match

IFAB Laws of the Game

www.thefa.com

3. Allowance for time lost

Allowance is made by the referee in each half for all playing time lost in that half through:

• substitutions
• assessment and/or removal of injured players
• wasting time
• disciplinary sanctions
• medical stoppages permitted by competition rules e.g. ‘drinks’ breaks (which should not exceed one minute) and ‘cooling’ breaks (ninety seconds to three minutes)
• delays relating to VAR 'checks' and 'reviews'
• goal celebrations
• any other cause, including any significant delay to a restart (e.g. due to interference by an outside agent)

The fourth official indicates the minimum additional time decided by the referee at the end of the final minute of each half. The additional time may be increased by the referee but not reduced.
The referee must not compensate for a timekeeping error during the first half by changing the length of the second half.

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chas vs dave said:

Apologies, I was under the impression that they had changed it.

It should be done by VAR or the 4th official, as the ref cannot cope with trying to ref the game and keep an account, imo.

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DarwinSpur said:

It should be taken completely out of referee's subjective hands via a countdown clock rendering time-wasting obsolete immediately and forever.

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Matrix said:

So instead of the powers that be assess the refereeing display, we get a fine for discipline?

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muppetman said:

I'm sure this has been shared a million times, but I missed it as I was too busy losing my shit in the south lower. Big Vic joining in is just wonderful.

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mark87 said:

Oh ffs

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Whazam said:

So, so, so tiring.

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spurs mental said:

BTW Efan Ekoku is a terrible co commentator.

Never once gave any credit to us for our second goal, from Udogie winning it back, to the slick move that led to Kulu getting space to shoot.

He has issues with us for some reason. Took him about 2 minutes to say anything after the goal went in.

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mpickard2087 said:

Blimey.

First half, I felt we were doing all the right things. Controlled possession, controlled territory, tried to work combinations and rotations in our play. We were doing the right things to try and break the deadlock. Things just lacked a little bit of nous/cutting edge and sharpness to what we did in and around the area and in our final action.

Second half I disliked more and more as it went on. It’s one things fans getting uptight and frustrated, but the players started to play in that manner too. Players, Maddison one of the chief culprits, just trying to force the play non-stop and not building pressure and we gradually lost some control on the game and it got more stretched and open. There was an absolutely rubbish 5-10 mins spell where we’d cough the ball up with a speculative ball in behind, the resulting kick from the keeper would be booted to McBurnie who was winning it all against the left side of our defence, SU would then win the 2nd/3rd ball as we got lazier in our defensive application, all of a sudden had some ball around our penalty area, we’d scramble it back, rush a through ball, and repeat….

Eventually during this spell of back and forth, they get a set piece long throw. Now I swear to you all, the last thing I say to the people I’m watching with as they prepare to take it is “three men unmarked edge of the area…”. They throw it in, it’s scrappy, one of those aforementioned runs onto it and slams it home. I’m not going to blame Spurs/Ange here, every single pro team and manager for some reason defends in this way, packs the area and leaves players unmarked on the edge to pounce on the second ball. Why, god knows. I just shake my head with every goal that gets conceded in this fashion. So avoidable.

At this point you can’t be blamed for fearing the worst. But there was a twist to come. Now obviously SU would be sitting on that 1-0 and we hardly had to work for control of ball or territory late on, but we kept huffing and puffing away, Postecoglou made some interesting (how often have you seen Son taken off over the years when chasing a goal?) and ambitious (taking off a centre back for more advanced options, are you watching Antonio!?) subs, and eventually the football gods smiled on us. Pressure, forced a corner, header, equaliser. Thank fuck, something out of it at least. But that wasn’t it, high press wins the ball back immediately, three clever sharp passes, Kulusevski is suddenly in some space, manages to belt the ball better with his right foot than he has at any point in the last 12 months with his left, and ding ding we have a winner. Extraordinary exhilarating finish.

Now look, I’ve said a few times already this season that I feel the test will be when teams start to sit and counter on us and there is reduced space and we need extra nous and precision and ability to break teams down. Today we did nearly fail this examination, in fact regardless of the result in some ways we actually did – especially pertinent for me was that we didn’t remain patient and work combinations and forced the play far too much and ceded some control. Many things to take and reflect and improve on from that 90 mins. But for tonight we celebrate, credit to them for digging deep and turning the match around, was a great buzz and beautiful moment that only sport provides.

Click to expand...

SlotBadger said:

I was trying to imagine the exact moment Vicario started his pitch-length celebration.

I decided it was when Højbjerg played the pass into Perišić (two passes before the goal was scored ).

I’m very easily amused but picturing this scenario in my head makes me laugh out loud.

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