What's new

Ratings vs Gent (2nd leg)

MOTM

  • Lloris

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Walker

    Votes: 23 11.4%
  • Dier

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Toby

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Verts

    Votes: 22 10.9%
  • Davies

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Wanyama

    Votes: 37 18.3%
  • Dembele

    Votes: 19 9.4%
  • Eriksen

    Votes: 78 38.6%
  • Dele

    Votes: 6 3.0%
  • Kane

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Son

    Votes: 8 4.0%
  • Winks

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Janssen

    Votes: 7 3.5%

  • Total voters
    202

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,512
Last weeks pathetic performance and result were the cause of our demise tonight. So many fans were completely underestimating what a precarious position we were in. Losing and not getting an away goal left us at the mercy of a moment within the 90 mins, such as a set piece, and that duly occurred. A further moment, a reckless one from Alli, then left us in a deep hole that we couldn't climb out of.

We had a promising start with the early goal, but I though the first half was mainly huff and puff rather than quality. Gent were happy to sit deep and narrow, giving up the wide spaces for us, so it was no surprise we had complete run of the flanks. However bar a Vertonghen run, and a cross each from Walker and Davies, there were precious little really quality moments and actual chances and mostly just kick/rush football and slinging the ball into hopeful areas. Even the goal we scored was a comedy of errors - defenders missing the ball, Eriksen's touch I thought was way too heavy and the goalie should have been out on it, and then almost dived out the way of it.

However to the credit of the 10 men left on the pitch, I thought we came out for the second half and made a decent effort of trying to claw it back. I was tearing my hair out that the Son/Davies swap wasn't made at half time, but that was quickly sorted and we kept plugging away and creating chances. We got one goal back and there was hope, but about the 75th minute around the time of the Dembele sub we just lost the momentum and rhythm and shortly after the killer blow was dealt. The closing minutes were played out with us having a couple of chances mixed with a bit disappointingly losing our rag again as things went against us.

In future we need much more consistency of performance in European matches so we don't end up in desperate situations trying to claw it back from the brink.

Lloris - Very little to do, but the second goal seemed to crawl past him.

Dier - Defensively was ok, but distribution was really poor again. Maybe half at fault, half unlucky for the second killer goal, but then has a meltdown in the closing stages yet again and had to grow up a bit.

Alderweireld - Pretty solid.

Vertonghen - After being critical of him earlier in the season I have to praise him for his adventure with the ball at his feet.... Why did he hide it away for so long? Good game.

Walker - The freedom of the right flank and I think you would hope to get a bit more decisive impact, some half dangerous contributions but that was it.

Davies - Davies. handbrake largely on.

Wanyama - I thought he was a little scattergun with the ball, and I'll be honest I probably would have had him off early in the second half as we chased the game, but popped up with a neat finish.

Dembele - Did what he does. His ball security and retention when down to 10 men helped at times, and he broke up play well at times. I thought subbing him off was the point we lost momentum.

Eriksen - Some lovely touches, but a few wasteful ones too in promising positions. Worked pretty hard tonight.

Alli - A couple of nice touches, some farting about, and then the ticking time bomb finally went off after two seasons...

Kane - Missed one great chance, thought he worked fairly hard tonight though.

Subs:

Son - Good early impact then got a little lost. Barbecued a great chance at the death.

Winks - Ok.

Janssen - n/a.
 

thinktank

Hmmm...
Sep 28, 2004
45,893
68,893
Shite side: If Mardy Alli doesn't make it all about himself we win that with 11 men.

Bright side: CL qual and FA cup much more manageable now.

MoM: Verts
 

Gaz_Gammon

Well-Known Member
Apr 16, 2005
16,047
18,013
Up until now I've disagreed with you regarding Dembele. However this season he just isn't reaching the heights of last. He just slows us down, and when we lack pace up front anyway it causes a real detriment.

Really think Winks should be pushing him for a starting place over the next few weeks.


Singling Dembele out as slowing us down is plain wrong. He played exceptional for most of the first half and definitely in the second. If you actually watched the work he puts in across the pitch it would surprise you.
 

alfie103

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2005
3,967
4,440
Last season Dier was God.

This year he has been chopped and changed about, so who is to blame? Not the player, that's for certain.

So many fans with short memories.

The bloke just isn't a centre back. Seems to lose concentration too easily to be effective there.

I think he is a better centre midfielder.
 

wishkah

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
4,790
14,449
Just got home. We looke d impressive. But that's the worst bit.

We counted. Walker beat 1st man 2/11 times with crosses. But Davies pissed me off more. Jan was amazing.
 

djw1973

Well-Known Member
Aug 23, 2013
375
969
Up until now I've disagreed with you regarding Dembele. However this season he just isn't reaching the heights of last. He just slows us down, and when we lack pace up front anyway it causes a real detriment.

Really think Winks should be pushing him for a starting place over the next few weeks.

No doubt Dembele has real quality, but the game against Fulham showed the difference when Winks was starting. Dembele is starting to remind me of Jenas. Too much sideways passing. He has the strength to beat 10 men, but where is the end product?
 

dontsalebale

Active Member
May 12, 2011
441
571
This criticism of Dembele is becoming surreal. He absolutely monstered the midfield and was all over the pitch. Its almost become a badge of honour to criticise him. If you cant see what he contributed tonight then you are beyond hope in the critical analysis of football stakes.
 

alfie103

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2005
3,967
4,440
This criticism of Dembele is becoming surreal. He absolutely monstered the midfield and was all over the pitch. Its almost become a badge of honour to criticise him. If you cant see what he contributed tonight then you are beyond hope in the critical analysis of football stakes.

I thought he was much better today than he was in the first game.
 

Col_M

Pointing out the Obvious
Feb 28, 2012
22,637
45,672
The one that frustrated me most was Walker, I thought we'd re-signed Lennon p, his crossing was so bad. We really needed Trippy out there tonight.
 

southlondonyiddo

My eyes have seen some of the glory..
Nov 8, 2004
12,599
15,011
We were great for 45mins playing with 10 men (out of 180 over the tie)

My padded seat in Club Wembley was lovely as was the £9.50 pizza

The atmosphere is so shit at Wembley anyway I thought I'd join the prawn sandwich brigade for this one

MOTM Alli
 

Gaz_Gammon

Well-Known Member
Apr 16, 2005
16,047
18,013
This criticism of Dembele is becoming surreal. He absolutely monstered the midfield and was all over the pitch. Its almost become a badge of honour to criticise him. If you cant see what he contributed tonight then you are beyond hope in the critical analysis of football stakes.

Post of the evening, he was after Eriksen the m.o.m.

Because he makes the difficult things look simple he gets some stick on here. Would like to see his opta rating (or whatever they are called) for tonight's game.
 

brownhead

Well-Known Member
Nov 19, 2006
459
433
Sorry, but anyone who cannot tell how class Dembele is and what he does for our team, simply don't know their football. End of
In recent months, Dele, Vertonghen, Walker and Rose in interviews have all even said themselves he is the best player at the club/ first name on their team sheet.
But yes I agree, he can be even more effective if he drove at players more or took them on as he can so easily.
I suspect it's Pochs orders not to.
 

fortworthspur

Well-Known Member
Nov 12, 2007
11,244
17,536
Arrrrrrrrrgggh!


That was classic Spurs.

Play them off the pitch for 80% of the game and lose because of an own goal and fucking petulant red card. Its an art form, really, the way we snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Ratings:

Alli: -10

Everyone else: pretty good.
 

dannythomas

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2004
3,757
2,813
Sorry, but anyone who cannot tell how class Dembele is and what he does for our team, simply don't know their football. End of
In recent months, Dele, Vertonghen, Walker and Rose in interviews have all even said themselves he is the best player at the club/ first name on their team sheet.
But yes I agree, he can be even more effective if he drove at players more or took them on as he can so easily.
I suspect it's Pochs orders not to.

When Dembele went off we lost control of the game . It was the wrong move . He broke up Gents play again and again once we were down to 10 men to the extent that we didn't look a man short. Once he went off holes appeared in our midfield. I saw absolutely no reason to make that substitution and it cost us big time.

Having said that, I have been saying since we lost Rose that we should stay away from 3 at the back . Davies is simply not a wing back and Vertonghen and Toby do not need Dier alongside them.if Winks is going to play I would rather see Dembele moved forward .
 
Last edited:

Cravenspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 31, 2011
2,864
3,680
This criticism of Dembele is becoming surreal. He absolutely monstered the midfield and was all over the pitch. Its almost become a badge of honour to criticise him. If you cant see what he contributed tonight then you are beyond hope in the critical analysis of football stakes.

For me, a person that has been on the Anti-Dembele/Wanyama partnership from preseason, understands the work Dembele does for the team. He is an amazing talent that can make people miss, puts in a great deal of tackles, and provides a pretty secure outlet to his teammates.

But I don't like him next to Vic. He just doesn't move the ball fast enough around the pitch and Poch got in his ear about that after that corner where he tried to dance around the defender.

Tonight he was a great shield, broke up some attacks with great tackles, but for me Winks can do most of that as well and he just offers so much more when going forward. Dembele would be top-10 to 15 player in the world if he just had a bit more imagination.
 

dk-yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2011
4,489
8,020
Kane was dirt tonight, I really don't get Dier, Eriksen tried but apart from a mistake from Gent which led to a goal did little else, don't understand the Son backlash, he has been our only consistent composed performer in europe all season.

You and I have vastly different experiences of football....
 

sparx100

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2007
4,612
6,646
Last season Dier was God.

This year he has been chopped and changed about, so who is to blame? Not the player, that's for certain.

So many fans with short memories.
Dont get me wrong he was excellent last season but this season he has been shit.

Wanayama is better than him in central midfield. He is a liability in a back 4 and last night he showed he was a liability in a back 3.

He hasn't really been chopped and changed about, he has played as a centre back which is his normal position, not played right back nor central midfield.

It may be that he is getting used to centre back having played as a midfielder for such a period but his awareness and decision making are questionable.

But how he has been favoured over Wimmer is a surprise. I think he has been decidedly average this season and yet Wimmer has not really had a sniff.
 
Top